Tonight we decided to pick up dinner from Whole Foods while we were grocery shopping. If you haven't tried their Chinese you should, it's amazing!! Even though it isn't on the menu they can substitute any meat for tofu. Personally I LOVE the Kung Pao Tofu with brown rice. Since they make it when you order it is so fresh and delicious!

Small Adjustments

Many people are intrigued by the idea of Veganism but feel that it is too overwhelming of a commitment to take on. To those of you I suggest trying to make small adjustments in your everyday life. Try switching from milk to a milk substitute, such as Almond Milk or Soy Milk. Try making one dinner a week meat free (I know a great place to get some easy recipes, wink wink).

I heard a wonderful motto the other day by a fellow vegan, Kathy Freston. She said, "Progress, not Perfection" it's all about making small adjustments in our life to try and make ourselves and the world better. What a wonderful point. You can always stick your toe into the world of being Vegan, nothing says you have to jump all the way in!

20 Minutes to Delicious!

Tonight's dinner was so quick and easy to make! It required no more than a pot for pasta and a pot for the "topping". It would be a great meal to attempt if you have a limited kitchen or are looking for something fast (start to finish this meal took 20 mins to prepare). Don't let it's simplistic nature fool you, it tasted wonderful!!

Pepita Fettucini with Spinach and Cranberries

8 oz Fettucini
1 Cup Raw, Unsalted Pepitas (Pumpkin seeds)
2 TBSP Oil
1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
6 Large Handfuls Spinach, torn
3 TBSP Soy Sauce or Tamari
3 TBSP Maple Syrup
2-3 Fresh Thyme Sprigs, optional
3/4 Cup Dried Cranberries

Cook Fettucini according to package directions.

Put pepitas in food processor until pretty finely chopped (or hand crush in a bag). Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add spinach. Use tongs to coat the spinach in the hot oil. Add the red pepper flakes, the tamari and maple syrup, and the thyme if you’re using it. Toss in the cranberries and mix everything up really well. Turn heat to low (or just turn it off and cover it until your pasta is cooked).

Drain pasta and add it to your skillet. Add crushed pepitas and toss well until everything is coated. Taste a noodle and see if you need an extra splash of tamari and/or maple syrup. The noodles should look like they don’t have a sauce on them, but they’ll taste like they do.

Serve immediately.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have missed fresh, hot out of the oven, chocolate chip cookies. I found a recipe that tastes just like what I used to love, but Vegan! These cookies are perfect right out of the oven, still hot.

1 c vegan margarine (Earth Balance makes sticks)
1 1/4 c sugar
1 TBSP molasses
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 c chocolate chips (I like Sunspire)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream together margarine and sugar until fluffy. Add the molasses and vanilla. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt, mix well. Fold in the chocolate chips. Do not let the batter fool you. It will be very loose, like you forgot a liquid.
Form into balls by pressing in hands. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes, until ever so slightly browned. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to cooling rack (or your mouth).

New Year's Resolution

One of my New Year's Resolution's was to make things that intimidate me. I have always wanted to make homemade pizza dough so tonight I did. We had homemade BBQ Pizza with Boca Crumbles, Pineapple, Onion, Red Peppers, and Daiya Mozzarella Cheese. I was shocked at how easy it was, but I did use my food processor.

1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
1 tsp sugar
3/4 c warm water
1 c cake flour
1 cup plus 3 TBSP all-purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp salt
2 TBSP EVOO

In a small bowl, whisk together the yeast, sugar, and warm water and let stand until foamy, about 5 mins.

In a food processor fitted with the dough blade, combine the cake flour, all-purpose flour, and salt and pulse 3 or 4 times.

Whisk 1 TBSP of the olive oil into yeast mixture. With the motor running, slowly add the yeast mixture, allowing each addition to be absorbed before adding more. Pulse the machine 10-15 times to knead the dough. The dough should clean the insides of the bowl but will be slightly sticky.

Coat the inside of a large bowl with 1 TBSP oil. Dust your hands with flour and remove the dough from the food processor. Form the dough into a ball and place in the bowl. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1-1 1/2 hours. Divide the dough in half and roll out.

Add sauce and toppings.

Cook at 450 degrees for 12-15 mins, or until edges are brown.

I love baked potatoes and had an idea tonight on how to jazz it up a bit. Before wrapping the potato, I added sliced onions and peeled garlic. Then I wrapped everything up and tossed it in the oven. It smelled great and tasted even better!!

Simple but Oh-So-Satisfying

For a treat tonight I made a Chocolate Ganache. Served with some fresh fruit and graham crackers for dipping, it was a perfect dessert to satisfying that chocolate craving!!

Chocolate Ganache

1/4 c soy milk
4 oz grain sweetened chocolate chips (I like Sunspire brand)
2 TBSP pure maple syrup

Bring soy milk to a gentle boil in a small sauce pan. Immediately remove from heat and add the chocolate and maple syrup. Whisk until fully melted and smooth. Serve!!

It couldn't get much easier, or better!