buffalo tofu.

I recently jumped on the air fryer bandwagon. I kept seeing the food being made in my feed – and then saw an infomercial and knew i had to have one. I chose this one and its been working pretty well. It doesnt make french fries taste like they have been deep fried, like the infomercial promised, but it does cook things so quickly and really does make stuff crispy with using a minimal amount of oil.

I kept seeing kittee posting about her buffalo tofu and I have to say this is hands down the best thing we have made in here so far! Wowza. we turned these into buffalo tofu wraps with some avocado, home grown tomatoes and daiya ranch dressing.  Cant wait for leftovers tomorrow!

You can find Kittee’s recipe for her buffalo cauliflower here – I modified it a bit to make it work for tofu/my needs.

First, she mentioned on instagram to marinate your tofu in tamari, nutritional yeast, garlic, liquid smoke and rice vinegar.  I just kind of eyeballed it all. Mix together and let marinade a few hours to overnight.

as to the recipe i posted above i used only
1/2 cup chickpea flour instead of the three flour blends she suggested, and i think i will only use a 1/2 T of curry next time.

I already have another batch of this marinating today! I cant wait to eat it again! Its not too spicy, super crispy and  heated up nicely the next day in the air fryer – crispy as can be!

zucchini noodle lasagna.

I took a stab at making a lasagna with zuchinni instead of noodles. I just kind of threw this recipe together, and happy to say…it was a hit! I came home late from work one day and my family was gladly eating this. Milo didnt even realize the noodles were zucchini.

zucchini – sliced thin with a mandolin slicer
1 package extra firm tofu, pressed and crumbled
3/4 cup raw cashews
1/2 cup-3/4 cup water
3-4 garlic cloves
salt
pepper
nutritional yeast
fresh basil
1 bag fresh spinach
vegan parm (recipe below)
Tomato sauce

Prep your zucchini.  Slice thin with a mandolin slicer and lay flat on paper towels, sprinkled with salt. Let sit for about 10-20 minutes and dab with paper towels as zucchini starts to sweat out the water.

Make the cashew cream: Blend together the drained raw cashews, fresh water, garlic, lemon juice, and generous pinches of salt and pepper.Add a little fresh basil if youd like as well.  Add a little vegan parmesan or nutritional yeast. Adjust seasonings to your taste.

Make the spinach: I make spinach by filling a tea kettle with water and boiling it, then putting bag of spinach in a colander and pour boiling water on top of spinach.  Run some cold water on it and squeeze out all excess water.  Chop roughly.

Make the tofu ricotta: Take crumbled tofu, cashew cream and spinach and mix to combine. Add fresh chopped basil.

Assemble the lasagna:Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour some pasta sauce in an 8×8 pan. Layer the zucchini noodles, then layer with tofu ricotta and sauce. Continue until you end on a layer of noodles on top. Top with remaining sauce and vegan parmesan.  Bake covered with foil for 25 min.  Uncover and bake for about 30 min more.

blueberry peach scones.

This that time of year in the midwest: blueberry season. peach season. Nothing beats fresh picked blueberries or fresh picked peaches. Im on my way to the farmers market after this post to get more peaches because we ate the last batch so fast! These scones were awesome. Ill be making more this afternoon!

I found the original recipe here.

• 1 1/3 cup flour
• 3 T coconut palm sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ stick (4 tablespoons) earth balance, cold and cut into small pieces
• ⅓ cup chopped fresh peach, in ½” pieces (about half a medium peach)
• ⅓ cup blueberries (cut in half if they’re large)
• 1 egg replacer, prepped (or 1 egg if not vegan)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce

For the topping

• 2 tablespoons sliced almonds

  1. Whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon until combined. Add the earth balance and using a pastry cutter or a fork, cut it in until the mixture is crumbly. Some chunks of earth balance should remain. Add in the peaches and blueberries.
  2.In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the egg/egg replacer, vanilla, and applesauce. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
  3. Prep your baking pan
  4. Scrape the dough onto the floured surface. Pat the dough into a 5″ to 5½” circle about ¾” thick.
  5. To make the topping, stir together the coarse sugar and cinnamon. Brush the dough with milk, and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar. Sprinkle the sliced almonds on top.
  6. Using a knife or bench knife that you’ve run under cold water, slice the circle into 6 wedges.
  7. Carefully pull the wedges away from the center to separate them, about 1 inch between them at the edges. Place the pan of scones in the freezer for 30 minutes, uncovered. While the scones are chilling, preheat the oven to 425°F.
  8. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until golden brown.

stawberry rhubarb bars.

I’m still working like a mad-woman to use up all this rhubarb in my garden. I froze a whole bunch, gave some away, and I still have a bit more to harvest. I found this recipe, and since it was pretty low on the sugar side, I gave it a go. I love the crust. Would think this recipe would be great with just about any fruit that is in season. I ate this all week for breakfast, and maybe for dessert too…but who’s counting?!

CRUST

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup  raw almonds
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 3 Tbsp (24 g) coconut sugar*
• 4 1/2 Tbsp (68 g) coconut oil, melted

FILLING

• 2 cups rhubarb, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 cup straweberries
• 1/4 cup orange or lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp coconut sugar
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch

CRUMBLE TOPPING

• 3 Tbsp coconut sugar
• 2 Tbsp flour
• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 1 1/4 Tbsp coconut oil

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and prepare an 8×8 pan.
2. Add oats, almonds, sea salt, and coconut sugar to a food processor or high speed blender and pulse into a fine meal.
3. Add melted coconut oil and pulse to incorporate. It should form a loose dough that forms when squeezed between two fingers. Add more melted oil if too dry.
4. Spread the mixture into the baking dish and press down into an even layer.
5. Bake for 15 minutes, then increase heat to 375 degrees F and bake for 5 minutes more, or until the crust is fragrant and the edges are slightly golden brown. Set aside.
6. In the meantime, add rhubarb, strawberries, juice, coconut sugar and cornstarch to a medium saucepan and warm over medium-low heat until slightly softened and bubbly – about 5-7 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent sticking, then remove from heat and set aside.
7. Next prepare crumble by adding all ingredients to a small mixing bowl and using a fork or your fingers to mix ingredients into a crumble. Set aside.
8. Add strawberry-rhubarb mixture to the pre-baked crust and spread into an even layer. Then top with crumble topping and spread evenly to cover fruit.
9. Reduce oven heat back to 350 degrees and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the strawberry topping is warm and bubbly and the crumble is golden brown.
10. Remove squares from oven and let cool completely – 1-2 hours. Once cooled, gently lift bars from pan and slice into 9 even squares, or 10 bars.

zuchinni fries.

Just like the years before, I have yet again neglected my garden and wind up finding GIANT zuchinnis growing and then racking my brain trying to figure out what to do with them. I’m going to take a stab at some zuchinni noodles this year, but for the time being I tried some zuchinni fries.  DEFINITELY a fan. These were so so delicious.

Sliced zuchinni
1/4 cup flour
1 T cornstarch
1/2 cup plain almond milk
1/2 tspn apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/2 tspn salt
pepper
1 tspn olive oil

Preheat oven to 450. Spray pan with cooking spray and set aside.

Youll need a bowl for the batter, and another for the breading. In one bowl add flour, cornstarch and almond milk and mix really well. In another add the bread crumbs and the olive oil and mix together with your fingers.

Dip zuchinni in almond milk mixture, then into the bread crumbs and lay on pan.  Once finished, bake for about 10/15 minutes, and then flip over and bake another 10 minutes more or so.  Add more salt and pepper to your liking.

whoopie pie smores.

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Fourth of july was just here and I used that as an excuse to get some cooking/baking in. I was drooling over this recipe for these whoopie pie smores – and since I had a bag of vegan marshmallows from trader joes, I used this as the perfect opportunity to make them! The original recipe is gluten free, but I didnt have gluten free flour blend, so i just subbed some regular flour and these turned out pretty great!!

• 1/2 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
• 3/4 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 2 flax eggs (2 Tbsp flaxseed meal + 5 Tbsp  water)
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1/3 cup coconut sugar
• 1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp  maple syrup or agave nectar
• 3/4 cups unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup + 1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup  almond meal (finely ground from raw almonds)
• 1/4 cup oat flour (finely ground from raw oats)
• 3/4 cups + 1 Tbsp all purpose flour

FILLINGS

• 1 10 ounce (283 g) bag Vegan Marshmallows
• 6 ounces  vegan dark chocolate, broken/roughly chopped
• optional: Fresh blueberries + sliced strawberries

Instructions

1. Make chocolate cakes by measuring out almond milk in a liquid measuring cup and adding apple cider vinegar  and baking soda and stir. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, prepare flax eggs by combining water and flaxseed meal. Let rest for 5 minutes while you prepare your other ingredients.
3. Add the oil, coconut sugar, and maple syrup, and whisk to combine.
4. Next add applesauce, vanilla, and salt, and whisk to combine. Then add almond milk mixture and whisk again until everything is thoroughly incorporated – about 30 seconds.
5. Lastly, add baking powder, cocoa powder, almond meal, oat flour, and gluten free flour, and whisk to combine, making sure no large lumps remain.
6. Transfer batter to the refrigerator to chill/thicken for 20 minutes, and preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C). Grease two large baking sheets with nonstick spray (if you don’t have two baking sheets, just use one and bake the cakes in 3-4 batches).
7. Once the oven is preheated, scoop out 1 heaping Tbsp amount of batter onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving at least 1-inch of room for spreading. Use your tablespoon to slightly spread them into a small disc. One standard baking sheet should fit 12 cakes. Repeat on second baking sheet.
8. Bake for 10-14 minutes, or until the edges appear dry. (I found 12 minutes to be the perfect time.) Remove from oven and let rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then carefully transfer to cooling racks to cool completely.
9. Repeat this process, baking the mini cakes until all batter is used – you should have about 40-48 total cakes.
10. Once the cakes are completely cooled, arrange half of the cakes on 1-2 baking sheets (upside down) and top each with a chocolate square and several halved marshmallows.
11. Broil on the top rack of the oven on high broil until toasty and brown. Watch carefully as they will burn/toast quickly! (Alternatively, if using a grill or campfire, toast the marshmallows over the fire and place between cakes once toasted).
12. Top with fruit (optional) and another cake of similar size and shape and press down slightly.
13. Enjoy immediately! Best when fresh.
14. Leftover cakes will keep covered at room temperature up to 3 days, or in the freezer up to 1 month.

 

cashew seitan.

 

This dish is easy, ready in about 20 minutes, and is loaded with flavor and easy to customize to your liking. The original recipe called for chicken, but I swapped it for some upton’s seitan, and I love the texture. You could swap for tofu too, I imagine, but I needed a change of pace. Below is my take on the recipe:

• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 package uptons seitan
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 heaping cups broccoli florets
• 1 cup red bell peppers, diced small
• 1 cup shelled frozen edamame
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed
• 1/2 cup unsalted dry-roasted whole cashews
• 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup, or to taste
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Asian chili garlic sauce, or to taste
• 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 3/4 to 1 cup green onions, sliced into thin rounds (from about 3 or 4 green onions)

DIRECTIONS:

1. To a gallon-sized ziptop bag, add the cornstarch, salt, pepper, seitan, seal, and shake to coat seitan evenly.
2. To a large skillet, add the oil, and seitan, and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes over medium-high heat, flipping and stirring so all sides cook evenly.
3. Add the broccoli, bell peppers, edamame, garlic, and stir to combine. Cook for about 3 to 4 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender.. While vegetables cook, make the sauce.
4. To a medium bowl add the soy sauce, maple syrup, rice wine vinegar, chili-garlic sauce, ginger, and whisk to combine; set aside.
5. Add the cashews to the skillet and stir to combine.
6. Add the sauce and stir to combine. Allow sauce to simmer over medium-low heat for 1 to 2 minutes.
7. Add the green onions, stir to combine, and serve immediately.

strawberry rhubarb crisp.

Its that time of year again where I have rhubarb coming out of my ears and no clue what to do with it besides make pie. So I present to you a crumble. I tried to find something that was refined-sugar free; this was a little tart, but it was pretty good. I think it would be great mixed into some yogurt! The top makes almost like a granola – it was my favorite part.

• 2 cups rhubarb, diced
• 2 cups strawberries, diced
• zest from one orange (or lemon)
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 5 Tablespoons maple syrup
• a pinch of salt
• 1½ Tablespoons cornstarch

For the crumbles

• ½ cup chopped almonds
• ¾ cups old fashioned oats
• 2 Tablespoons coconut flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 2 Tablespoons coconut oil

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Put the strawberries and rhubarb in a large mixing bowl with the zest, lemon juice, maple syrup, salt, and cornstarch and mix well.
2. Mix the almonds, flour, oats, cinnamon, salt and maple syrup together in a medium mixing bowl. Cut in the coconut oil with your hands or a pastry cutter until the mixture begins to form crumbs.
3. Grease an oven proof casserole or skillet and spoon in the fruit filling. Crumble the topping evenly over the top. Bake for 25 minutes, checking occasionally. When the topping is browned and the fruit is bubbling, remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.

date + almond butter cups.

Right before I stopped eating sugar, I discovered Justin’s Dark Chocolate mini Peanut Butter cups. I was IN HEAVEN. Honestly, they have been one of the hardest things to not get to eat. Just having a little bit of chocolate at the end of a meal has left me feeling kind of incomplete after  meal – not going to lie. But thanks to kittee’s recipe for these homeade chocolates I can eat candy again! Or at least feel like I am!

All of her combinations look and sound so good! I went with dates and almond butter, but I think I definitely want to add something crunchy to them next time. I store them in the freezer and grab one when I need something sweet!

2 parts cacao powder
2 parts melted coconut oil
1 part liquid sweetener
soft dates
almond butter

Line a mini cupcake pan with liners or grease them. If you mix about 1/4 cup of the cacao and 1/4 cup coconut oil with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, you’ll get enough chocolate for a few cups.

Put the cacao powder, coconut oil and sweetener in a small dish and stir well to combine.

Spoon a little bit of liquid chocolate into each paper, just enough to cover the bottom, and freeze for a couple of minutes. Meanwhile, carefully split your dates in half lengthwise and remove the pits. Spread about 1/2 teaspoon of peanut butter onto each half. Remove the tray from the freezer and smoosh a date half into each chocolate circle. Spoon more chocolate on top, to cover the date and freeze until ready.

 

korean tacos.

The original recipe I found for these tacos was actually a chicken recipe, but I changed it up and made it vegan, using Beyond Meat, and modifying the ingredients a bit. The result were tacos that packed all kinds of flavor and texture! I used the leftovers to turn into quinoa bowls for lunch the next day….More on that below!*

Cabbage slaw:

• 2 cloves of garlic, pressed through a garlic press
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated or minced
• 1 Tablespoon agave
• 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• Juice from 1/2 lime
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
• 2 1/2 cups cabbage, shredded
• 3/4 cups carrots, cut into matchsticks
• salt and black pepper, to taste“chicken” marinade

• 3 cloves of garlic, finely minced
• 1 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated or minced
• 1/4 cup Korean chile paste, or gochujang
• 1 Tablespoon Agave
• 4 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sesame oilTortillas
  beyond Meat (tofu or seitan would also work fine)
  Cucumbers
  hot sauce
  Cilantro
  green onions
  Kimchi

Instructions

• In a large bowl, whisk together the garlic, ginger, agave, rice wine vinegar,  soy sauce, sesame oil, lime juice and sesame seeds. Add the cabbage. Toss to combine. Adjust seasoning to taste. Cover and refrigerate until you are ready to use.
• Prepare your sauce. In a large bowl, whisk together the garlic, ginger, Korean chile paste, agave soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and sesame oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Marinate the Beyond Meat in the sauce for an hour or overnight.
• When ready, warm up a pan and cook up the beyond meat, reserving any extra marinade.*
• Cook until ready – then serve as tacos topped with cucumber slices, green onions, cabbage slaw and kimchi. Cilantro and hot sauce optional.

  *we took the extra marinade and marinated tofu, then baked at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or so and used this tofu, the cabbage slaw, kimchi, green onions, slaw and cashews mixed with quinoa for a delicious lunch the next day.