Pumpkin Sloppy Joe

Sticking with the theme of lentils, and the seasonal pumpkin goodness, and warm sloppy joe sandwiches are a great winter meal.

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked lentils 

1 onion, diced 

4-6 garlic cloves, minced 

2 tbsp chili powder 

2 tsp ground cumin 

1 cup vegetable broth 

1 cup canned pumpkin 

¼ cup tomato paste  

pure maple syrup 

8 slices bread 

Directions:

1. Cook lentils if not using pre-cooked. 
2. In a separate skillet, sauté onions and garlic until translucent. 
3. Stir in chili powder and cumin to coat. 
4. Add broth, pumpkin, and tomato paste, stirring to combine. 
5. Taste, adding maple syrup for a sweeter dish. 
6. Stir in cooked lentils. 
7. Heat over low until warm. 
8. Taste, adjusting spices as desired. 
9. Combine to make sandwiches and serve. 

Notes

• Makes 4 sandwiches
  
• Per serving: 390 calories, 4.2g fat, 67.2g carbs, 23.2g fiber, 9.8g sugars, 23.8g protein

Bourbon and Brown Sugar Stove Top Baked Beans

After making stove top baked beans before, I decided to play with the recipe and make a bourbon and brown sugar version, kind of like the one you purchase in a can at the store.

Ingredients:
1 tube prepared polenta, cubed
1 cup dry white beans
1 cup dry kidney beans
1 Tbsp oil
1 sweet onion, diced
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
¼ cup Bourbon
3 Tbsp molasses (not blackstrap)
1 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp soy sauce
4 Tbsp pure maple syrup

Directions:

1. Cook beans either soaking overnight and boiling in a pot for 20 minutes, or use a pressure cooker to cook from dry or soaked.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Bake cubed polenta for 5-10 mins, until golden and crisp (no need to flip).
4. Sauté onions and garlic in oil until translucent.
5. Add cooked beans, Bourbon, molasses, brown sugar, soy sauce, and maple syrup.
6. Bring to a boil.
7. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered until    liquid reduces, about 20 minutes.
8. Serve over baked cubed polenta.

Notes:

• Serves 4.
• You can sub 1 can of white beans and 1 can of kidney beans for the dry beans and skip cooking step.

Baked Beans

Tis the season for baked beans. This can be made as a main meal or it can be a side. They'd be great to bring to a potluck.

Ingredients:
1 tube prepared polenta, cubed (optional) 
1 onion, diced 
2-3 minced garlic cloves 
1 cup dry white beans 
1 cup dry kidney beans
1/4 cup water 
2 Tbsp ketchup 
1/4 cup molasses (not blackstrap) 
2 Tbsp soy sauce 
2-4 Tbsp pure maple syrup 

Directions:
Optional if using polenta: 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking  sheet with parchment paper. 
2. Bake cubed polenta for 10 mins. No need to flip. 

To make beans:

1. Cook beans using Instant Pot. Drain and rinse.
2. Sauté onions and garlic until translucent. 
3. Add beans, water ketchup, molasses, soy sauce, and maple syrup. 
4. Bring to a boil. 
5. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered until liquid reduces, about 20 minutes. 
6. Once beans are done, divide equally among 4 bowls. 
7. Optional: Top with polenta cubes or gently mix in.

Notes:

• Serves 4 (if as entree)
• You can sub  1 can each white beans and kidney beans.
• Pictured with a side of green beans.

Maple Peanut Butter Pancakes

By now it is probably obvious our love of pancakes. When Veg News covered these, I had to make them. These pack a super flavorful punch. 

Ingredients:
3/4 cup oat flour
3/4 cup gluten-free 1:1 flour blend
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups vanilla almond milk
1/3 cup maple syrup 
1/4 cup peanut butter, just smashed peanuts
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp vanilla
cooking spray

Directions:

1. Whisk the flours, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together he milk, syrup, peanut butter, vinegar, and vanilla.
3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring until combined.
4. Heat pan or griddle over medium heat.
5. Spray with cooking spray.
6. Scoop the batter in your preferred amounts (1/3 cup or less) onto the pan and cook until bottom is golden and stable.
7. Flip and cook until both sides are golden brown and center is cooked.
8. Repeat with the remaining batter, taking care to re-spray the pan between pancakes.

Notes:

• You can sub all-purpose flour for the gluten free flour blend at a 1:1 ratio.

Ebelskiver (Danish Filled Pancake)

We've been having Aebelskivers for a long, long time. On the theme of making things I loved prior to becoming vegan something I will eat now, I found a vegan Ebelskiver recipe. 

The top photo shows some of the fillings I used this time around: strawberry jam, peanut butter, blueberries, dark chocolate chips, and the pumpkin cream cheese filling from the recipe linked above. I topped with powdered sugar, maple syrup, and soy whip.

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp ground flax seed 
3 Tbsp water
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups vanilla almond milk 
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 Tbsp agave
4 Tbsp vegan butter, melted
1 Tbsp vanilla
cooking spray

Directions:
Making Batter

1. Prepare the flax egg by whisking the ground flax seed in the water and set aside in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
2. Warm your Ebelskivar pan over medium or medium-low heat.
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
4. In another bowl, whisk together the milk and lemon juice. Let sit for a few minutes. Whisk again, add the agave, butter, and vanilla, and combine.
5. Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Add the flax egg, whisking to combine.

Making and Cooking the Ebelskivers

1. Spray the pan with cooking spray. If it turns brown, your pan is too hot. Lower the heat if need be.
2. Fill each well half-full with batter.
3. Add 1 teaspoon to 1 Tablespoon of filling to the batter, then fill remaining well with batter. Be quick!
4. Cook until the sides are golden brown and the top is bubbling (like regular pancakes.) It takes a couple minutes.
5. Turn the ebeskivers over using special turning tools, two spoons, two chopsticks, or another device. Cook through. 
6. Remove from pan, cover with toppings, and serve!

Notes:

• Makes about 27 (just shy of 3 servings in my house).
• You need an Ebelskiver pan to make these. 

Spiced Vanilla Baked Oatmeal

I am loving baked oatmeal dishes. I first learned about them from Happy Herbivore Meal Mentor. This one is a great breakfast any time of the year, but tasty in the fall.

Ingredients:
6 tbsp dry rolled oats 
2 tbsp flour 
¼ tsp baking powder 
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice 
dash of ground cardamom 
dash of ground allspice or cloves 
½ cup unsweetened almond milk 
1 tbsp maple syrup 
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375F 
2. In a bowl, combine oats, flour, baking powder, and spices. 
3. Stir in milk, maple syrup, and vanilla, mixing until well combined. 
4. Transfer batter to a ramekin or ovensafe dish. 
5. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until firm.

Notes:

• Serves 1
• Approximately 250 calories

Baby Churros

Breakfast or Dessert! I made these Baby Churros several times. They could stand to be crispier, since churros have a crispy fried outside with a soft inside. But, if you're craving churros, this is a pretty quick and easy recipe to put together.

Ingredients:
1¾ cups flour 
2 tsp ground cinnamon 
¼ tsp baking powder 
¼ tsp salt 
5 tbsp pure maple syrup 
3 tbsp unsweetened almond milk 
1 tbsp raw sugar 
¼ cup applesauce

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. 
2. Whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. 
3. Make a well in the middle and stir in maple, milk, and sugar into flour mixture and mix well. 
4. Add applesauce, stirring to combine. 
5. Take about 1½-tsp of dough and shape into little elongated ball. 
6. Place the ball on baking sheet and repeat until you have used up all the dough. 
7. Sprinkle churros with additional cinnamon and sugar. 
8. Bake 11-12 minutes, or until churros are golden and bounce back slightly to the touch.

Notes:

• Makes about 20 churros. 
• 5 churros/serving

Pumpkin Muffins

In the spring, I started the Happy Herbivore Meal Mentor program and decided to make these pumpkin muffins for breakfast out of the Big Breakfast Book. My only complaint is that they stick to the wrap a bit.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup applesauce
1 cup canned pure pumpkin
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Mix dry ingredients. 
3. Add remaining ingredients, mix until just combined.
4. Baked in lined muffin cups for 18-25 minutes.

Notes:

• Makes 12 muffins.
• Per muffin: 102 calories, 0.3g fat, 23.1g carbs, 2.6g fiber, 10g sugar, 1.8g protein

Sweet Potato Sundae

It was strawberry season when I made this, so I used sliced strawberries. You can really use any sliced fruit that strikes your fancy: bananas, strawberries, other whole berries, even sliced pears, peaches, and apples. I like it as a fall dish, just because I think of sweet potatoes as a fall item. I suggest trying it when the fruit is in season since you can get sweet potatoes any time of the year. This recipe has been modified from the Happy Herbivore Meal Mentor.

Ingredients:
1 baked sweet potato 
1 tsp ground cinnamon 
1¼ tbsp pure maple syrup 
3 oz vegan yogurt (plain or vanilla) 
½ cup sliced fruit

Directions:

1. Smash potato in a bowl or cut in half. 
2. Sprinkle with generously with cinnamon and drizzle with maple. 
3. Top with yogurt and fruit.

Spinach Strawberry Salad

I LOVE Strawberry Salads!! This one is an excellent salad. It's strawberry season, so enjoy! I got the original recipe from Happy Herbivore Meal Mentor. 

Ingredients:
4 cups fresh spinach 
2 cups sliced strawberries 
1 cored and diced apple
1-2 cups cooked white beans, rinsed 
3 tbsp walnuts

Apple Balsamic Vinaigrette 
¼ cup applesauce 
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar 
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard 
pure maple syrup, to taste

Directions:
Vinaigrette 

1. Whisk together until well combined. 

Salad

1. Toss salad ingredients with Apple Balsamic Vinaigrette until well combined.

Notes:
You can make this as a side salad for dinner, or eat it as dinner, serving 2.
Per serving: 390 calories, 9.5g fat, 62.2g carbs, 18.1g fiber, 20.1g sugars, 18.2g protein

Strawberry Shortcake Polenta

This is another breakfast that could be dessert, depending on your sweet tooth. The original recipe for the Happy Herbivore Meal Mentor served 4, but I made it serve 2. 

Ingredients:
1-18 oz tube Polenta
5 oz strawberries, sliced
6 oz yogurt
maple syrup

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Cut polenta into 1/2" rounds.
3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
4. Bake 8-10 minutes until golden in color and crisp (no need to flip.)
5. Top each polenta with strawberry slices and a dollop of cold yogurt.
6. Drizzle with maple syrup.

Notes:

• Serves 2. To serve 4, double recipe.
• Per serving: 262 calories, 1.3g fat, 49.8g carbs, 4.0g fiber, 12.1g sugargs, 10.4g protein
• You can use frozen strawberries instead of fresh for a winter breakfast. In that case, warm the strawberries on the stove or in the microwave before adding to polenta.
• You could add more fruit or nuts to this. 

Lava Cake Oatmeal

Another dessert for breakfast. In fact, I could post this just as easily as a dessert. I like oatmeal, I like chocolate, I like cake, I like lava cake. This will do. I got the original recipe from Happy Herbivore Meal Mentor, but I've modified it to be even more chocolatey! 

Ingredients:
⅓ cup dry rolled oats 
2 tbsp flour 
1 tbsp cocoa powder 
¼ tsp baking powder 
pinch salt
⅓ cup (2.5-oz) chocolate soy or almond milk 
1 tbsp pure maple syrup  
½ tsp vanilla extract 
1 tbsp chocolate chips or 1 square of chocolate

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F and set aside a small ramekin. 
2. In a mixing bowl, combine oats, flour, cocoa, baking powder, and pinch of salt. 
3. Stir in milk, maple syrup, and vanilla. 
4. Mix well and transfer half to the ramekin. 
5. Place the chocolate chips or chocolate square on top, in the center, so that no part of it is touching the sides. 
6. Pour the rest of the oatmeal over chocolate, using your fingers to press down lightly and spread the mixture. 
7. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until the top is slightly firm and dry. 
8. Let cool a few minutes, but serve warm.

Notes:

• Make less chocolatey by using plain/vanilla soy or almond milk. Per serving with plain/vanilla milk:  269 calories, 7.1g fat, 46.4g carbs, 6.8g fiber, 12.5g sugars, 7.8g protein
• Top with yogurt for an icing. 
• Made again, and an additional photo!

Apple Crisp Muffins

These apple crisp muffins are so good! I had a couple, one child had a couple, and someone else had at least half dozen. I got them from Happy Herbivore Meal Mentor, which is a whole foods plant-based no oil meal plan. It's not a diet. All the same, I was told, "These don't taste like diet muffins." And I was asked to make them again. 

Ingredients:

1½ cups flour (white whole-wheat or GF) 

½ cup dry rolled oats, uncooked 

2 tsp baking powder 

1 tsp baking soda 

2 tsp ground cinnamon 

¼ tsp ground ginger 

dash of ground nutmeg 

¼ tsp salt 

½ cup raw sugar 

¼ cup brown sugar 

1 cup applesauce 

¼ cup pure maple syrup 

1 red apple, diced

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350F. 
2. Mix dry ingredients together. 
3. Add remaining ingredients, mix until just combined. 
4. Spoon into lined muffin cups. 
5. Sprinkle with additional oats and brown sugar, if desired. 
6. Bake for 18-25 mins.

Notes:

Makes 12 muffins.

Per muffin: 124 calories, 0.4g fat, 28.8g carbs, 2.4g fiber, 15.4g sugars, 1.8g protein

Un-Birthday Cake Baked Oatmeal

This was amazing! It takes a little long for a regular weekday breakfast, but I think I'll be having it fairly regularly for a weekend breakfast. It came from the Happy Herbivore Meal Mentor Big Breakfast Book. I submitted this photo as a part of the March Madness Challenge on Instagram. This might be fun to make several of these during a brunch.

Ingredients:
6 tbsp dry rolled oats
1 tbsp oat flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp pure maple syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp applesauce
3-4 tbsp almond milk
3 oz yogurt
sprinkles

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. In a small bowl, combine oats, oat flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
3. Add in the maple syrup, vanilla, applesauce, and 2 tbsp milk.
4. Stir and add more milk until batter forms. The mixture should be wet, but not runny.
5. Transfer mixture to a ramekin.
6. Bake for 17-20 minutes, until the top is set and golden.
7. Top with yogurt and sprinkles.

Notes:

• Serves 1
• Per serving: 271 calories, 3.9g fat, 46.9g carbs, 4.1g fiber, 20g sugar, 9.8g protein
• Add a side of fruit.

French Toast

We love French toast at our house. When I went out to eat at a place that had French toast, I always ordered it. I went looking for a vegan version that was straight-forward and tasty. I found one from Minimalist Baker. 

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp ground chia seeds
1/2 Tbsp agave syrup
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
dash nutmeg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract 
vegan butter for greasing pan
4-6 slices of French bread, sliced 1/2 - 1 inch thick

Directions:

1. Use a whisk to mix the ground chia seeds, agave syrup, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla together. Place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
2. Slice the bread (if you haven't already.)
3. Preheat a griddle over medium heat, and melt butter.
4. Place the slices of bread into the milk mixture for about 30 seconds per side.
5. Transfer to the warm and buttered griddle. Cook each side until golden brown (on griddle side), a couple minutes per side.
6. Top with desired topping, I have granola and maple syrup in this picture.

Notes:

Other toppings we enjoy are whipped topping, peanut butter, and fruit.

Heart Healthy Glazed Sweet Potatoes

For those who like sweet potatoes sweet, this is a great recipe. For all of us (except the person in the family who is not a sweet potato fan), this is a winning recipe. 

Ingredients:
l/4 cup water
2 tblsp brown sugar
2 tblsp honey or maple syrup or agave
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 pounds sweet potatoes (4 large) peeled and cut into wedges

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 
2. Lightly coat a 9x13 baking pan with cooking spray. 
3. In a small bowl whisk water, brown sugar, honey/agave/syrup and olive oil until smooth. 
4. Place a single layer of sweet potatoes in the pan and pour the sauce over them and turning to coat. 
5. Cover and bake until tender (about 45 min.) 
6. Turn the sweet potatoes once or twice to coat. 
7. When tender, remove the cover and continue to bake for about 15 more minutes to set the glaze.

Notes:

• You can use yellow sweet potatoes, yams, Okinawan sweet potatoes, or any colored sweet potato. It all is excellent.

Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel Topping

These are fantastic pumpkin muffins! The streusel topping is very good, the muffins are dense and yummy. I ate 2 straight out of the oven and several more throughout the day. The kids really enjoyed them as well. I adapted the recipe from May I Have That Recipe.


Ingredients:

Muffins:
1/3 cup plus 1 tbsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk 
2 tbsp flax meal
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
3 tbsp maple syrup
1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
2/3 cup sugar in the raw
1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Streusel Topping:
1 tbsp coconut oil at room temperature
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp flour

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12 cup muffin pan with foil liners and spray them lightly with cooking spray.
2. In a small bowl, combine almond milk and flax meal. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, maple syrup, coconut oil and vanilla extract. Add almond milk/flax mixture and mix well.
4. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, salt and walnuts. Slowly add to pumpkin mixture, whisking gently until just incorporated. Set aside.
5. In a small bowl, combine streusel ingredients, mixing gently with your fingers or a fork.
6. Spoon batter evenly in muffin cups. Sprinkle tops with streusel mixture. Bake at 350ºF until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes.

Other Details:

• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Cook time: 20-25 minutes
• Yields 12 muffins
• Original Recipe

Sweet Potato Sandwich Spread

I'm not much of a sauce or spread person. But, since becoming vegan, I have embraced it a little more. Making your own spreads at home really helps. I'll add some notes at the bottom, about specific use and taste, but let me just say that when I spread this on a roll, added Tofurky, grape tomatoes, spinach, and a bit of Daiya Mozzarella-style shreds, I had one of the best sandwiches ever. All those flavors really melded together with the sandwich spread. The spread is okay on its own or just spread on bread or crackers, but it shines in a full-on sandwich.

I am a fan of Finding Vegan and saw the recipe originally posted through their site. This is a The Family Kitchen recipe. The recipe below is exactly how I made it.

Ingredients:
1 large baked sweet potato, flesh only (producing about a cup)
1/2 cup walnuts
1 Tbsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
pinch fresh ground pepper
2 tsp lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp canola oil

Directions:

1. Blend all ingredients in a Vitamix, blender or food processor until smooth.

Other Details

• Makes about 1 cup
• Original Recipe
• I think the original recipe used yams (based on the color of orange in the photo). Yams and sweet potatoes are often considered interchangeable. I baked my sweet potato fresh, but you can use leftovers. If using sweetened leftovers, do not add additional sweetener.
• Make the spread more hummus-like by using 1/2 cup canned chickpeas instead of walnuts, or try another nut. The walnuts gave it a great nutty flavor.
• You can use red pepper or another spice instead of cinnamon. You are making this spread for you, so make what you like!
• Pick your favorite oil. If you use an olive oil or a truffle oil, you will add that flavor. (Now I'm thinking I should have used the Riesling oil we have - it's just a drizzle of oil really.)