Showing posts with label vegan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vegan. Show all posts

Sugar Cookies With Honey Coated Cranberries & Walnuts 

Friday, January 18, 2013 - Posted by Kristina Manente at 8:20 PM
I was having a craving for dessert, but there wasn't a whole lot in my dad's place fruit wise, which I was specifically in want of. However, given that my little brother is a very finicky eater, I thought maybe cookies would be a good thing to bake. He seemed excited at the idea anywho, and so, voila, sugar cookies! While I left some plain for the bro, the others I dotted with honey coated dried cranberries and walnuts. Delish. While I cheated and they came from a bag, to coat your own would be easy, just  dredge them in some honey and then bake them until crispy and shiny and lovely.

My little brother LOVED these. He exclaimed, "These are VEGAN?! No milk? No butter?" He said I could stay as long as I wanted. Dad agreed. I don't mind baking for rent. Easy.

 The problem I find with a lot of sugar cookies are that they're too crispy, so when I rolled out the dough for these to cut, I left them a bit thicker. They puffed up a bit and what was left was a perfect sugar cookie. Delightful.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup vegan room temp margarine
1/4 cup Almond milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Dried cranberries
Walnuts
DIRECTIONS

In a bowl, mix confectioner's sugar, salt, margarine, almond milk, and vanilla until combined and there's no clumps. Slowly stir in flour, baking soda and cream of tartar until blended. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Divide dough in half. and roll each dough half to 1/4 inchish thickness on a floured surface. Cut out in whatever shape you desire, sprinkle some granulated sugar on top and add cranberries and walnuts, pressing them into the down slightly. Bake 10 minutes or until edges just begin to turn golden brown.

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Black Bean Pizza 

Monday, October 29, 2012 - Posted by Kristina Manente at 1:28 PM
I was craving black beans, but I was also craving pizza. Finding myself without the tomatoes for normal pizza, I decided to try and make a black bean pizza. I had never had it and had no idea what it would taste like. Let's just say this is the best pizza ever. Ok? Ok.

I've found naan bread to be an excellent base for pizzas. You can make them really fluffy bases or really crispy, and the size of a naan is a perfect size for a personal pie. Ugh. So good. 

It'd be great to spice this up a bit next time with some jalapeños. I also think diced tomato on the top would be marvellous. It was amazing at is, but adding things is always quite fun. Plus this is so stupid easy there are limitless combinations to be made!

INGREDIENTS

1 can of black beans, drained
1 small onion
1 large clove of garlic
Olive oil
Garlic powder
Cilantro
Salt & pepper to taste
Vegan cheese of your choice (I used Cheezly Mozz)
Naan bread
DIRECTIONS

Pre-heat oven to 190C/400F.

Dribble some olive oil in a pan and sauté your onions and garlic for a few minutes. After the onions are slightly soft, add the black beans. Add a healthy dash of garlic powder and cilantro plus salt and pepper. Cook together for around 3 minutes.

While that cooks, grate some vegan cheese/if already grated, put aside. 

Put naan bread on a cookie sheet and top with the black bean, onion, and garlic mixture, spreading it around. Should be quite thick. Top it all with grated cheese and with some more cilantro, salt, and pepper. Cook for around five minutes before switching to the broiler to melt the cheese for another five.

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Moroccany Couscous 

Monday, September 24, 2012 - Posted by Kristina Manente at 12:11 PM
I love couscous... probably too much. Something about it just pleases me to no end. I've made all sorts of coucouses... couscousi? What is the plural of couscous? Is it just couscous? Important questions people. Anywho, I just like experimenting with couscous and putting random things in it. So, as I was debating what on earth to make for dinner for Maria & I, I found some couscous and went to town raiding the fridge.

 And this here is the result... with an extra bit of zing (and not because I accidentally dumped a whole lot of chilli flakes in there, not at all, I am as graceful as a swan). But basically, couscous is the easiest thing to make and it's also so easy to be vegan or anything!

INGREDIENTS

 2 cups uncooked couscous
1 zuchinni, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 small can of beans (I used kidney, but any would work)
Handful of raisins
Spices (I mixed together cumin, garlic, cinnamon, chilli flakes, salt, and pepper)
Olive oil
DIRECTIONS

 Pour couscous into a bowl and cover with boiling water. Cover the bowl and set it aside for 5-10 minutes.

 Sautee the zuchinni, bell peppers, and carrots in olive oil for a few minutes until they start to become tender. Add in the beans, spices, and raisins. Leave some of the sauce/water from the beans. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

 Fluff couscous with a dork, drizzle some olive oil and combine with sautee mixture. Voila! Nom away!

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Pancakes with banana, raisins, and coconut 

Sunday, September 23, 2012 - Posted by Kristina Manente at 6:07 AM
One of the issues with going vegan was breakfast. I was never a huge brekkie fan to be fair, but sometimes I just REALLY wanted a freaking waffle or a pancake. My first attempts at vegan pancake making were...er... special. They were more like bricks made out of sweet potato.

I wanted to try something new and so I whipped this up, using baking powder as the eggs and the result was very very fluffy! They were a bit scorched, but in the end it was okay because covered in syrup, everything tastes good.

Next time I'd top with some margarine and I think I'd toast the coconut a bit, but these were very filling and were gobbled up by my non-vegan friend who said they tasted just like normal pancakes. Huzzah! These are stupidly simple too.

 INGREDIENTS

1 cup flour
1 tablespoon cane sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
Pinch of salt
Some vanilla (to taste)
1 cup "milk"
2 tablespoons veggie oil

Syrup, raisins, banana, and shredded coconut for topping


DIRECTIONS

Combine your dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, salt) in a large bowl.

Add "milk", vanilla, and oil and stir until smooth.

Plop some batter onto a pan over medium heat. Flip when bubbles appear and the edges are stiffening.

Cut up a banana, toss some raisins, pour some syrup, and sprinkle some shredded coconut on top! Voila!

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