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I created this dish as a healthier alternative to the packaged vegan taco meats that I’ve used in the past (like Yves Meatless Ground Taco Stuffers and Soyrizo). For sure, they are delicious (YUM!), but they’re also highly processed (BOO!). I’m striving to use more whole foods.
Tempeh is a fermented, whole soy food. My favorite brand is Turtle Island Foods. The Organic Five Grain flavor contains (organic) non-GMO soybeans, millet, brown rice, sesame seeds, apple cider vinegar, and rhizopus oligosporus starter culture.
Tempeh can have a bitter edge, so it’s best to cut and steam the pieces of tempeh for about 10 minutes before using. I like tempeh best when it has a chance to soak up flavors from a liquid-based marinade or sauce. The black spots are molds that are supposed to be there.
INGREDIENTS
1- 8 0z “block” or “cake” tempeh, thawed, steamed and chopped
20 crimini mushrooms, chopped or sliced
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 onion, chopped
1-2 carrots, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeds removed and minced
1/2 red pepper, chopped
Dash garlic powder
1/2 t salt
1/2-1 t chili powder
1 t oregano
1 t cumin
1 1/2 t salt-free fajita seasoning blend (contains paprika, onion, garlic, black pepper, oregano & cumin)
2 T apple cider vinegar
1 T tamari
1/4 C tomato paste
3/4 C water
ASSEMBLY
While you’re steaming the tempeh, chop the veggies. Keep the mushrooms separate, but you can combine the garlic, onion, carrots, jalapeno, and red pepper in a bowl. Combine the spices. Combine the wet ingredients (vinegar, tamari, tomato paste & water.) After the steamed tempeh cools, chop it.
I used 2 large saute pans, each on medium heat with a little coconut oil.
In the first pan, saute about half of the veggies, half of the spices and all of the mushrooms.
In the second pan, cook the other half of the veggies and spices with the chopped tempeh and wet ingredients. The liquid marinade will soak into the tempeh. Cook down some of the liquid, but not all.
Finally, combine the two. Portion in 1 cup sized wide mouth freezer jars. Makes 6- 1 cup servings.
Eat this filling with your favorite taco fixings, in tortillas or as a salad.
Don’t forget the Pinto Bean Dip!
This gingerbread is delicious and “just sweet enough.”
For this, I started with my Sunflower Butter Energy Bar (GF) recipe. My original goal was to create a gingerbread-flavored version. However, I decreased the seed butter by quite a bit, and I added some baking soda and vinegar. This resulted in a fluffy “cake,” rather than a dense “bar.” The tofu and molasses create a moist sponginess.
I also wanted to use some Chinese 5 Spice that I’d been neglecting. It contains a blend of star anise, cinnamon, clove, fennel, and pepper. It smells heavenly!
WET INGREDIENTS
1 box (12.3 oz) Firm Silken Tofu (Mori Nu)
1/4 C maple syrup
1/4 C molasses
1/4 C Once Again sunflower seed butter
1/2 C non-dairy milk
1/2 t apple cider vinegar
1 t vanilla extract
DRY INGREDIENTS
1/4 C EACH: quinoa flour, millet flour, brown rice flour, garbanzo bean flour & rolled oats (GF)
1/2 C oat flour (GF)
2 T ground flax seed
3 T fine shred unsweetened coconut
1 t baking soda
1/2 t EACH: Chinese 5 Spice, cinnamon, ground ginger & cardamom
1/4 t EACH: salt, coriander & nutmeg
ASSEMBLY
Puree the wet ingredients in a food processor. Combine with the dry ingredients. Grease a square glass pan with coconut oil. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. (You can also try baking in muffin liners for 23 minutes. I’m going to do that next time!) Cool on a wire rack before cutting.
This is a quick vegan lasagna I whipped up tonight. My goals were:
- to use up some lasagna noodles I’ve had in my pantry for a long time.
- to use fewer noodles, to substitute vegetables (zucchini and cauliflower) for some noodles.
- to use a packet of Road’s End Organics Cheddar Style Gluten Free Chreese Sauce Mix that I had in the pantry.
INGREDIENTS:
6 Lasagna noodles: Cook them partially and set aside
1 Zucchini, sliced lengthwise in 1/4″ strips
Cauliflower, sliced in 1/4″ strips
Artichoke hearts
Make 1 packet Road’s End Organics Cheddar Style GF Chreese Sauce Mix
OR use some Daiya Cheddar Style or Mozzarella Style Shreds
OR make some vegan cheese sauce from a homemade dry mix (i.e. recipes in The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook, by Jo Stepaniak)
1- 26 oz jar pasta sauce
1 C Italian Mushroom Saute
Italian seasoning blend
Garlic powder
Crushed red pepper flakes
ASSEMBLY:
First Layer
Use a square glass pan. Spoon some pasta sauce on the bottom. Add 2 noodles. Spread vegan cheese sauce (or shreds) over the noodles.
Second Layer
Set some zucchini slices, cauliflower slices and artichoke hearts on top of the cheese. Spoon some Italian Mushroom Saute and pasta sauce over the vegetables.
Repeat the layering process 3 times. Spread the remaining pasta sauce on top, then sprinkle with Italian seasoning blend, garlic powder and crushed red pepper flakes.
Line the bottom of the oven with a piece of foil to catch any bubbly overflow.
Bake at 375 degrees, covered for 35 minutes. Continue baking uncovered for 25 minutes, to evaporate excess moisture. Turn off the oven, crack open the door and let it rest in the oven for another 10-15 minutes.
Makes 4 servings.
Thank YOU– for making your lasagna without meat and dairy.
WET INGREDIENTS:
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
chopped onion (~1/4 to 1/3 cup)
chopped red pepper (~1/4 to 1/3 cup)
1- 15 oz can organic Cannellini (white kidney) beans, rinsed & drained
1 T tahini
1 T balsamic vinegar
1 t capers
DRY INGREDIENTS:
1/4 C ground sunflower seeds
1/2 C oat flour (GF)
dash garlic powder
dash salt
1/8 t crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 t fennel (crushed with mortar & pestle)
1 t dried basil
1 t Italian seasoning blend
1 T nutritional yeast
ASSEMBLY:
Use a small food processor to puree the wet ingredients.
In a large bowl, combine the wet puree with the dry ingredients.
Divide the burger “dough” into 4 balls. Pour a drop of olive oil on your hands to handle it easier. The burger dough will be sticky and soft– don’t panic!! Create 4 patties. You can just drop the ball right onto parchment paper and then flatten into a patty.
Refrigerate the patties on parchment paper for at least 30-60 minutes before cooking. The time will allow the excess moisture to soak into the oats, which will bind the burgers. Trust me!
Cook the patties on medium heat in a saute pan using the oil of your choice (I use coconut oil). It should take about 10 minutes per side. Shake the pan periodically to make sure they aren’t sticking.
Serve these burgers with a dollop of spaghetti sauce. If you want to dress it up more, add vegan cheese, kalamata olives, and fresh basil.
THANK YOU for not eating animals.
Today we passed through Kelowna on the way to Big White Ski Resort.
We’ve never been to this part of Canada before. Of course, every trip away from home is a fun opportunity to check out new vegan/vegetarian restaurants. That’s definitely part of the fun of being vegan!
In Kelowna, we were excited to find (on Happy Cow) a completely vegan restaurant. Spoiled! I have a vegan life of abundance, not deprivation.
We ordered some pan-fried dumplings for an appetizer.
For dinner, we split an order of sweet & sour veggie meat.
It was very dessert-like, actually!

We also split an order of stir-fried vegetables. I adore broccoli and cauliflower.
Along with the bill, we were served a small “pineapple donut.” YUM!
You can find this restaurant at:
1958 Kirschner Rd., Kelowna, BC V1Y 4N6
Telephone: 778-478-9931

Carrot Sunflower Bean Burger (GF)
I just made up this recipe today…
“WET” INGREDIENTS:
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
small wedge chopped onion (about 1/4 to 1/3 cup)
1 chopped carrot
1- 15 oz can kidney beans (rinsed and drained)
1 T tahini
2 T ketchup
1 t hot sauce
1-2 T water (only if needed to puree the other wet ingredients)
DRY INGREDIENTS:
1/4 C ground sunflower seeds
1/2 C oat flour (GF)
dash celery salt
1/2 t cumin
1/2 t fajita or taco seasoning blend
1 t dried chives
1 t dried parsley
1 T nutritional yeast
ASSEMBLY:
Use a small food processor to puree the wet ingredients.
In a large bowl, combine the wet puree with the dry ingredients.
Divide the burger “dough” into 4 balls. Pour a drop of olive oil on your hands to handle it easier. The burger dough will be sticky and soft– don’t panic!! Create 4 patties. You can just drop the ball right onto parchment paper and then flatten into a patty.
Refrigerate the patties on parchment paper for at least 30-60 minutes before cooking. The time will allow the excess moisture to soak into the oats, which will bind the burgers. Trust me!
Cook the patties on medium heat in a saute pan using the oil of your choice (I use coconut oil). It should take about 10 minutes per side. Shake the pan periodically to make sure they aren’t sticking.
(Eric noticed that the “raw” burger color looked a bit like pink slime…HA!)
Enjoy! The fajita seasoning provides a little kick, and the carrot provides a subtle sweetness.
I ate my burger with a side of steamed cauliflower topped with Frontera Tomatillo Salsa.
What can I say…I love creating new muffin flavors!
“WET” INGREDIENTS:
1 finely chopped organic apple (about 1 1/2 C)
1 mashed banana
1/3 C non dairy milk
1 Chai tea bag steeped in 1/3 C hot water
*2 cubes applesauce (about a scant 1/4 C)
1 T organic canola oil
1/3 C organic brown sugar
1/3 C evaporated cane juice (vegan sugar)
2 t vanilla extract
*So that I always have applesauce on hand for low-fat baking, I freeze unsweetened applesauce in ice cube trays, then thaw a few cubes at a time.
DRY INGREDIENTS:
1/2 C EACH: millet flour, quinoa flour, garbanzo bean flour, and brown rice flour
2/3 C oat flour (GF)
1/3 C rolled oats (GF)
2 T ground flax
2 T finely shredded unsweetened coconut
2 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
1/8 t clove
1/8 t allspice
INSTRUCTIONS:
Set aside the chopped apple. Combine the other “wet” ingredients in a bowl or on a large plate that you mash the banana on. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry, and fold in the apples. Bake in muffin liners at 350 degrees for 22 minutes. Makes 15.
When in Chicago…Eat at The Chicago Diner! There are 2 locations. We went to the Logan Square one…
FRIDAY DINNER…
BUFFALO WINGZ
THE RADICAL REUBEN
THE SOUL BOWL

Seasoned quinoa, black beans, charred balsamic brussels, mashed sweet potatoes, spicy blackened tofu with chimichurri sauce, and avocado slices.
FLAUTAS

Corn taquitos with mashed potato-cheeze-jalapeño filling, enchilada sauce, lettuce, tomato, sour cræm, guacamole, black beans & Mexican rice.
NON-DAIRY MILKSHAKES
CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CAKE
SUNDAY BRUNCH…
FRENCH TOAST COMBO, PANCAKE COMBO
MONTE CRISTO
CINNAMON ROLLS
Need I say more?























































