Ultimate Brownies (Passover Edition) March 24, 2013

These brownies are a spin on the recipe from my book.

So yummy, and you can have them on Passover!

Makes 9 servings.

1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips or 2 ounces chocolate

1/3 cup vegan butter

3/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons nondairy milk

2 tablespoons applesauce

1 3/4 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup matzo cake meal

1/2 cup almond meal

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and oil a 9-inch square baking pan.

Melt the 1/3 cup chocolate chips and the vegan butter.

Stir in the sugar, milk, applesauce, and vanilla.

Stir in the flours, chocolate chips and nuts if using.

Spread evenly in pan.

Bake for 30 minutes.

Serve as soon as possible.

Store in a sealed container.

Skordalia (Greek Potato Garlic Dip) March 16, 2013

I love this tangy, garlicky dip! Serve it with a good crusty bread, and adjust the flavorings if you desire.

5 potatoes, boiled until soft and peeled, still warm

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

5 large cloves garlic, roughly chopped

3/4 teaspoon sea salt

dash freshly ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender.

Szechuan Eggplant and Mushrooms March 11, 2013

I love this versatile Chinese dish. You can adjust the spice level with sriracha, and can add chopped kale or fried tofu.

 

2 Japanese eggplants or 1 small eggplant, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1 package mushrooms, sliced thickly

1/4 cup toasted sesame oil

1 1/2 tablespoons tamari

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 handful cilantro, chopped

2 scallions, chopped

3/4 cup vegetable broth

1 tablespoon sriracha

1 tablespoon agave nectar

1 teaspoon ginger paste or minced ginger

Cook the eggplant, mushrooms in the oil on medium heat in a large saute pan for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the rest of the ingredients and continue to cook for about 8-10 minutes, making sure eggplant is soft.

Serve immediately over rice.

Garnish with chopped cilantro.

Coconut Lime Icing March 10, 2013

This icing is great on the Chocolate Gluten Free Cake!

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1/2 teaspoon finely grated lime peel

1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil, melted

2 tablespoons agave nectar

Beat the ingredients with an electric mixer for 2 minutes, until thoroughly emulsified.

Charoset

This is based on my mother’s amazing recipe.

12 oz dates
4 oz raisins
1 cup raw walnuts
1/4 cup orange juice
zest of 1 orange
1/2 cup sweet wine
1 Granny Smith apple, grated

Process dates, raisins, and nuts in a meat grinder. Stir in remaining ingredients.

You can add a little more orange juice or wine if needed. It should be very thick and sticky.

Let sit in a sealed container overnight before serving.

Easy Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Cake March 9, 2013

2 1/2 cups sweet sorghum flour

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifter (I prefer dark cocoa)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon xanthan gum

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups nondairy milk

1/2 cup canola oil or melted unscented coconut oil

1 teaspoon white or apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and oil and flour 2 8-inch round pans.

Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Add the wet ingredients and stir to combine.

Pour evenly into pans and bake for about 26 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Ultimate Gluten Free Vegan Brownies March 8, 2013

These brownies are adapted from my “Ultimate Brownies” in my book Sweet Utopia. These really need to be eaten right away!

1 cup sweet sorghum flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum

2 ounces semisweet chocolate or 1/3 cup chocolate chips

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup vegan butter

2 tablespoons nondairy milk

1 3/4 vanilla

1/2 cup nondairy chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and oil a 9 inch square baking pan.

You can also use mini, regular or jumbo muffin pans (silicone work very well and do not require oiling.

Sift the flour, xanthan gum, baking powder and baking soda into a large bowl.

Melt the 2 ounces chocolate together with the sugar and vegan butter.

Stir the chocolate mixture, milk and vanilla into the flour mixture using a wooden spoon.

Fold in the 1/4 cup chocolate chips and nuts if using them.

Spoon and press the mixture into the pan evenly.

Bake for about 28 minutes, or 23 minutes for muffin pans–edges should look set but the middle should look gooey.

Caponata March 7, 2013

I love this caponata! It has all my favorites in it: eggplant, olives, artichokes, and is so flavorful and healthy! Dig into it with some flatbread crackers. It’s easy to drop the olives or artichokes or add 3 tablespoons of capers if you would like. Keep this refrigerated in a sealed container and it will last you a few days.

1 eggplant, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch cubes

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 celery rib, thinly sliced

1 onion, finely diced

1/3 cup chopped green olives

1/3 cuo chopped artichoke hearts (canned or frozen and thawed)

1/2 cup water

3 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar

2 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 teaspoon agave nectar

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Salt to taste if needed

Cook the eggplant in the 1/4 cup olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Cook for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until the eggplant browns.

Place the eggplant aside in a bowl and add the 2 tablespoons of oil to the pan.

Saute the celery and onion until light brown.

Return the eggplant to the pan and add in all the rest of the ingredients.

Stir to combine thoroughly and keep cooking about 10 minutes.

Place in a large bowl and chill for several hours prior to serving.

Keep refrigerated.

Persian Aromatic Rice with Currants, Garbanzos & Almonds March 6, 2013

A couple tweaks on regular brown Basmati rice give you an aromatic, complete dish!

Serves 2-4

1 cup brown basmati rice

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 1/2 cups water

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup dried currants

1/2 cup cooked garbanzo beans

3 tablespoons lightly toasted sliced almonds

In a large pot on low heat, saute the rice in the olive oil about 5 minutes, stirring often, until lightly toasted.

Add the water and salt, cover, and cook for about 35 minutes, or until almost all of the water is absorbed.

Add the currants and garbanzos and continue to cook for 5 minutes.

Serve with almonds as garnish.

Chocolate Cookies (Gluten Free)

Makes a dozen cookies.

2 ounce unsweetened chocolate
3 tablespoon extra  virgin coconut oil

1/4 cup applesauce
1/2 cup agave nectar
2 tablespoons nondairy milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/2 cup sweet rice flour
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and oil a cookie sheet.

Melt the chocolate and oil together.

Add the agave, applesauce, milk and vanilla.

In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients.

Mix in the wet ingredients until combined.

You may need to knead the mixture with your hands.

Form into 2 inch balls, place on cookie sheet and press down.

Bake for about 11 minutes, until cookies are puffy and set but not firm.