Vegan Eggplant and Ricotta Bake

Of course this is not Dairy Ricotta – but it is a deelish vegan alternative! You can use this mixture for lasagna or manicotti, etc.

It is also great to be able to bread the eggplant and and broil it (of course waaaaay healthier than frying them!) I bet this would have been extra insane with a sprinkling of daiya cheese on top…next time 🙂

Vegan Eggplant and Ricotta Bake

1 large eggplant, sliced medium thin
4 cups bread crumbs
3 Ener-G Eggs
2 cups tomato sauce
dried mixed Italian herbs

Vegan Cheese Ricotta

1 block extra-firm tofu
1 Tbs. lemon juice
2 Tbs. nutritional yeast
1 Tbs. garlic powder
3 Tbs. vegenaise
1 Tsp. Each dried Parsley, Marjarom, Basil and Chives

  1. Make the Vegan cheese ricotta. Crumble the tofu and make sure it is fine, no big pieces – looks like ricotta. Add the herbs and vegenaise, which makes it super creamy. Then add the lemon juice, nutritional yeast, garlic powder and salt and pepper and mix well.
  2. In two separate bowls, put the bread crumbs (also, herbs and salt and pepper) and Ener-G eggs and take each slice and coat in the egg mixture and then in crumbs.
  3. You could fry the eggplant or to keep it Much healthier broil the coated slices for 2 minutes on each side.
  4. Use an 8×8 glass baking dish and layer some sauce on the bottom. Then cover the bottom with layers of eggplant and the tofu. Pour on a little more sauce and a drizzle of olive oil and repeat the process. When you have two layers, cover with tin foil and bake for 25-30 minutes. Enjoy!

Party Time! Fun Vegan Snack/Apps Ideas

I am super excited about the Jets game this weekend!!! I wanted to share some past ideas for fun snack ideas to serve for the big game (or really any party :)) I know that sometimes we can end up at a party without any good vegan grub (potato chips don’t count!) so I like to always be prepared and bring something fun with me 🙂

Have a great weekend! Go J-E-T-S!!

Cheesy Baked Penne with Cauliflower and Crème Fraîche VEGAN Version! SO GOOD!

Sweet Potato Fries with Raspberry Dipping Sauce

Beet Ravioli with Herb Cheese Filling

Garbanzo Guacamole

Meltaway Peppermint Patties

Vegan 7 Layer Dip

Vegan Eggplant Pecan Pesto Dip

Herbin’ Ranch Dip

Babaganush

Chocolate-Covered Katie’s Banana Butter

Chocolate Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Chopped “Liver” Spread

Vegan 7 Layer Dip

I like to go to and host parties — and around this time its all about Football!!

GO J-E-T-S!!!!!!!!

I always want something yummy that everyone will like but of course want to keep it vegan. This was actually beyond deelish and people were bumping their hands to get in there for more 🙂

Hosting a Championships or Super Bowl Football party? Or just attending one and need a fabulous dish to bring….try this one out and let me know what you think. I am sure you and everyone else will be super delighted!!!

with cheese layer, after baking

before cheese layer and baking

Vegan 7 Layer Dip

1 (16-ounce) can vegan refried beans
3 large avocados
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 (8-ounce) containers vegan sour cream
1 packet taco seasoning
1/2 cup diced mild green chiles, drained
1 can sliced black olives
5 tomatoes, chopped
2 cups shredded cheddar daiya or other vegan cheddar cheese

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Spread a layer of refried beans in the bottom of an 8 inch by 8 inch quart glass baking dish.
  3. Spoon avocados into a bowl and mash with the lime juice. Spread on top of the refried beans.
  4. Stir together the sour cream and taco seasoning, and spread over the avocado.
  5. Sprinkle the chiles over the sour cream, and top with a layer of black olives.
  6. Add the tomatoes, and sprinkle with the cheese.
  7. Heat the dip for 15-30 minutes or until heated through and the cheese is a bit melted.
  8. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Orange Pan-glazed Tempeh

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Sorry to have disappeared for a bit there, but Michael and I spent almost a month in India, so please forgive me 🙂 It was one of the most amazing experiences of our lives. (Post to come soon!)

Back to healthy and deelish Vegan goodness for 2011!!!

This dish was amazing! I love tempeh so much but Michael doesn’t typically like it and he really enjoyed this dinner! It is all about these deelish flavors. You can use tofu as well if you prefer it or to mix it up.

I have been a little short on time these days so haven’t been cooking nearly as much as I like. But when I do get to it is really special time in the kitchen and even better at dinner time with Michael 🙂 But I am trying to come up with different time-saving techniques so I can cook more regularly. Normally I would squeeze the orange juice myself (all you need is 3-4 oranges) but instead I bought fresh OJ for the recipe. Just nice to know I can still make a deelish meal and save a little time here and there. I also always keep my ginger root in the freezer so it stays for longer. What I have been doing now is grating most of it and then putting it back in the freezer. That way when I have a recipe or dish that calls for freshly grated ginger all I have to do is pull it out of the freezer and measure, simple and perfect!

Orange Pan-glazed Tempeh
adapted from 101cookbooks.com
serves 3-4
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
2 teaspoons tamari
1 1/2 tablespoons mirin
2 teaspoons maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
2 small garlic cloves, crushed
roughly 10 ounces of tempeh (or extra-firm tofu)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 lime

  1. Put the orange juice in a small bowl and combine with ginger, tamari, mirin, and maple syrup, ground coriander, and garlic. Mix together and set aside.
  2. Cut the tempeh (or tofu) into thin-ish, bite-sized pieces, and if working with tofu, pat dry with a paper towel.
  3. Put the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the tempeh and fry for 5 minutes, or until golden underneath. Turn and cook the other side for another 5 minutes, or until golden. Pour the orange juice mixture into the pan and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced to a lovely thick glaze. Turn the tempeh once more during this time and spoon the sauce over the tofu from time to time.
  4. Serve the tempeh drizzled with any remaining sauce and a squeeze of lime, with the coriander scattered on top.

Mom’s Cauliflower

Over Passover this year my mom made the most insanely tasty cauliflower ever!! (and I love most cauliflower dishes!) Luckily she shared the recipe with me and I can share it with all of you 🙂 You will not be disappointed! I made it at home and we loved it again, soooo good! Enjoy 🙂

6 lb cauliflower (3 heads), cut into small florets
1/2 cup olive oil
6 garlic cloves minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper

  1. Preheat oven to 425 F
  2. Place everything in a big ziplock back and let marinate overnight in the fridge.
  3. Spread evenly in 2 shallow baking pans and roast in upper and lower thirds of the oven, stirring occasionally until golden, about 25 – 30 mins.
  4. Cover tightly with foil and let cool until about an hour before serving. Then put back in the oven, sealed with foil, at about 250 F for at least another hour, stirring occasionally.

Vegan BBQ Burgers with Amazing Barbecue Sauce

These are amazing!!! The gardein was a super ingredient in these burgers. They came together really easily when making them into patties. The best part was how unbelievably tasty they are!

And the BBQ sauce is so deelish and perfect for everything else you would ever want with a condiment! It was great that I had extra left over sauce to savor for weeks 🙂

I served this with Cucumbers with Creamy Dill Dressing and Summer Corn & Zucchini Salad with Citrus Dressing. Pretty much the perfect meal!!!

Amazing BBQ Sauce bubbling away

Vegan BBQ Burgers
Makes 8 -12 amazing burgers

1 ½ cup onions, chopped
1 ½ teaspoon Earth Balance
1/3 cup nutritional yeast
½ cup tahini
2 tablespoons paprika
2 teaspoons salt
4 cups Chick’n Scallopini Gardein, roughly chopped
2 cups Barbecue Sauce (recipe below)

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with oil spray. In a skillet, sauté onions in Earth Balance until soft. In a bowl, combine nutritional yeast, tahini, paprika, and salt. Add onions and combine.
  2. In a food processor, combine half of the mixture and 2 cups of Gardein and blend together, adding Gardein gradually. Set aside and repeat with the other half of the mixture and Gardein.
  3. Form mixture into 1-inch-thick patties, and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes. Pour 2 cups of barbecue sauce over patties, and increase heat to 375 degrees. Bake for 20 minutes or until well done. Serve with extra barbecue sauce on the side.

Amazing Barbecue Sauce
Makes about 3 cups

2 teaspoons corn oil
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
2 1/2  cups tomato sauce
2 cups water, divided
1 cup agave
2 tablespoons molasses
1/2 cup mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon allspice
2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon tamari
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon liquid smoke

  1. In a medium pan over high heat, add oil. Sauté onion and garlic until onions are translucent. Add tomato sauce, cup of water, agave, molasses, mustard, salt, allspice and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and let simmer for about an hour.
  2. Add second cup of water, tamari, lemon juice, and liquid smoke. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes longer. Allow to cool slightly and serve generously over burgers.

Cooked Burgers before the Sauce

Uncooked

Avocado Squash

Oh My these little gems are good!! I saw these at the Union Square farmers market being cooked in a demo. At first I was wondering why they were sautéing avocados and then they told us they were actually squash. But to me they look so similar! There true name is not even Avocado Squash, but the farmer renamed them because they look so alike. They are firm and nutty and deelish! So happy that I bought a couple.

All I did was chop them up and saute them with some olive oil, salt & pepper. Super simple and amazing!

Parent’s Dinner Party – Dessert Time!

Although the meal was sooo good, dessert is always our favorite time! I made a deelish Fresh Mango Coconut Cobbler, my Mom brought yummy home-made vegan cookies and my Mother in Law brought amazing Jacques Torres Dark Chocolate and fresh fruit! How fabulous!!!

Thank you for coming over and sharing a wonderful meal with us!

Raw Mango Cobbler Goodness

Mom's Cookies

Decadent!!

Cobbler Filling

Fresh Mango Coconut Cobbler
Adapted from Ani Phyo

Cobbler Crust:
3 cups pecans, dry
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup pitted dates

For the crust, process pecans, vanilla, and salt in food processor with S blade. Add pitted dates and process until mixed well.
Sprinkle half of the cobbler crust onto the bottom of your pie dish, and set aside.

Cobbler Filling:

3 to 4 ripe mangos, peel, seed, slice (about 2 cups)
1 batch Orange Coconut Syrup, below

Place sliced mango into a large mixing bowl and toss with Orange Coconut Syrup.

Cobbler Coconut Syrup:
1/3 cup pitted dates
1/3 cup agave
3 Tablespoons coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup water, as needed

Place all ingredients into blender, adding water as needed to make a smooth syrup. Pour syrup into bowl with mango, and mix well.
Scoop coated mango onto cobbler crust. Top with half of remaining cobbler crust and serve!
Will keep for 3-5 days in refrigerator. Try as a delicious way to start your day!
Mom’s Banana Nut Bread Cookies
adapted from vegweb.com

1 1/4 cup flour (unbleached, all purpose)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup apple sauce
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 mashed banana
1 teaspoons baking powder
handful of walnuts, crushed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix together flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a small – medium bowl and set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together oil, sugar, and vanilla.  Mix in mashed banana and baking powder.
Add ingredients in the small bowl and stir well.
Once it is well stirred, lightly mix in the crushed handful of walnuts.
Drop by tablespoons onto lightly greased cookie sheet.  Bake 15-18 minutes

Parent’s Dinner Party – Vegan Seitan Piccata, Creamed Spinach & Creamy Polenta

YUM YUM YUM!!! If you want a meal to impress here you go 🙂

Candle 79 is one of my favorite vegan restaurants! And one of my fave dishes there is the Seitan Piccata.  I adapted this dish from their recipe and it was super deeeeelish! I am sure this sauce would work on tofu, tempeh, etc…  soooo yummy!!

I knew both our dads love Creamed Spinach and Polenta so I wanted to make it for them vegan style 🙂 It was super creamy and super amazing!! I doubled the recipes below to make sure we had enough and we were happy to have some left over! They were sooo good!

I love meals where people are like…”How is this vegan?!” This wasn’t the most low-fat of meals but it sure was amazing!! Creamed spinach and creamy polenta is not everyday food for us, but it was perfect for a special occasion.

I LOVE my warming drawer! Everything was ready to go for dinner, yet I had a clean kitchen perfect for the party!

This made a lot of sauce! Was great for meals that week as well 🙂

I cooked this down a little further, but it was still so rich and creamy! YUM!

YUM! Polenta Goodness!

Vegan Seitan Piccata
adapted from Candle 79 in NYC
Serves 6
1. Dredge seitan cutlets in flour, shaking off excess.
2. Heat 2 Tbs. olive oil in skillet over high heat. Sauté cutlets in oil 30 seconds per side, or until crisp and golden brown. Remove seitan from skillet, and drain on paper-towel-lined plate.
3. Add remaining 2 Tbs. olive oil to skillet, and return to high heat. Add shallots, onion, capers, and garlic, and sauté 1 to 2 minutes, or until softened, stirring frequently. Whisk in wine and lemon juice, and cook 3 to 5 minutes more.
4. Add broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer 1 minute to combine flavors. Whisk in parsley, margarine, salt, and pepper. Pour over seitan cutlets, garnish with large caper berries or lemon slices, and serve.

  • 6 seitan cutlets, rinsed and drained (I used 12 cutlets – Gardein Lightly Seasoned Chick’n Scallopini)
  • Whole-wheat flour for dredging
  • 4 Tbs. olive oil, divided
  • 1/2 cup chopped shallots
  • 2 Tbs. drained capers
  • 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine  (I used red instead)
  • 2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 2 Tbs. nonhydrogenated vegan margarine
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
  • Large caper berries or lemon slices, for garnish, optional

Vegan Creamed Spinach

  • salt
  • 1 1/2 pounds fresh spinach
  • 3/4 cup soy creamer
  • 3/4 cup plain soy milk
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • grated nutmeg
  • fresh pepper

1. Large pot of water with salt – boil
2. Put spinach  for about a minute then drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process, then chop spinach
3. Place oil in broad saucepan on medium-low, add flour and cook stirring consistently till golden, then stir in creamer/milk
4. Add spinach and bring to a boil until spinach has absorbed most of liquid and sauce is thick, about 15-25 minutes
5. Add nutmeg, salt and pepper and season to taste

Vegan Creamy Polenta

  • 1 cup vegan creamer
  • 1 cup plain soy milk
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 1/2 cups coarse cornmeal
  • 4 tablespoons Earth Balance
  • fresh ground black pepper

1. In a medium saucepan bring the creamer, soy milk and the water to a boil.
2. Add the salt and then gradually add the polenta while stirring.
3. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer, stirring constantly.
4. The polenta should be smooth and large bubbles will pop on the surface.
5. Cook until very thick but not stiff, about 5 to 7 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and add earth balance and pepper.
7. Enjoy!!

Garlic & Herb Cauliflower

This dish is SO divine! Next time I will definitely double this recipe, it went so fast! This is one that anyone will love and Great for Kids!!!

Garlic & Herb Cauliflower
Recipe adapted from Tofu n Sproutz

  • 1-2 heads cauliflower
  • 2-4 cloves garlic, peeled
  • handful fresh herbs (a few sprigs rosemary, parsley & sage)
  • 4 Tbs olive oil
  • salt
  • 2 cups fine, dry, seasoned breadcrumbs – fresh not seasoned

1. Break cauliflower into small florets and place in a large bowl.
2. Put garlic, herbs and olive oil into food processor and mix until garlic is completely blended.
3. Pour oil mixture over cauliflower; stir until all cauliflower bits are evenly coated (Note: It works best and breaks less cauliflower if you toss with your hands until evenly coated).
4. Pour breadcrumbs over cauliflower; toss carefully again until all breadcrumbs are stuck on to cauliflower (Note: Depending on how dry the crumbs are, you might need more crumbs; cauliflower should be evenly coated and dry).
5. Lift carefully onto a shallow sided 9 X 12″ baking pan; roast at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until tender-soft when pierced with a fork.

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