Monday, January 30, 2012

Meatless Monday Recipe: No-Bake Thumbprint Cookies

No-Bake Thumbprint Cookies
Vegan; Makes about 2 dozen

So, I got this recipe from the Whole Foods Cooking demo a few weeks ago. These are great for a quick snack or a light breakfast with your morning cup of coffee. Sorry about missing last week-it's been a little on the crazy side.... I was sick and just started a new job today, hopefully things calm down and my routine finds a "new" normal....

3/4 cup pitted dates
3 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cup smooth almond butter
1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
zest and juice of one orange
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (I had to bump it up to 1 teaspoon)
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
3/4 cup 100% all-fruit preserves, such as cherry or apricot (I used the Rainer cherry from Uncertain Farms)

Directions:

1. Put dates into a medium bowl, cover with hot water and set aside to let soak for 10 to 15 minutes. **Reserve 1/2 cup of the soaking liquid, and then drain well.

2. In a food processor, pulse oats until coarsely ground; transfer to a large bowl and set aside. Transfer dates and reserved 1/2 cup soaking liquid to food processor and puree until smooth. Add date mixture, almond butter, coconut, orange zest and juice, cinnamon and salt to bowl with oats and knead together to make dough.

3. Roll dough into 24 balls, transferring them to a parchment paper-lined sheet tray as done. Make an indentation in the middle of each cookie by pressing down with your thumb. Spoon a bit of fruit preserves into each indentation and chill for at least 1 hour before serving.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Meatless Monday Recipe-Creamy Root Soup

Creamy Root Soup
Serves 10; Vegan

This soup is made with a variety of root vegetables and supplies an assortment of cancer-fighting antioxidants to help prevent free-radical damage. If you've never tried rutabagas before, you'll come to appreciate the subtle and delicious flavor they add. Pair with some crusty garlic bread to make the perfect "cold" winter meal. I say that since you guys have 75 degrees of winter days.....

Ingredients

3 1/2 to 4 cups water or vegetable broth, divided (1/2 cup, plus 3 cups, plus 1/2 cup)
1 large onion, chopped
1 large baking potato, chopped
2 large carrots, sliced
1 medium rutabaga, peeled and chopped
1 large sweet potato, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper or cayenne pepper
4 cups washed, fresh spinach, coarsely chopped

Directions

Heat 1/2 cup water or broth in a large pot. Add onion and cook over high heat, stirring often, until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
Stir in 3 cups water or broth and remaining ingredients except spinach. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender and the soup is thickened, about 30 minutes.
Stir in spinach and simmer until just tender, about 5 minutes. Add remaining 1/2 cup water or broth, if desired, for a thinner soup.

Nutrition Information | Per serving (1/2 cup):

calories: 70; fat: 0.3 g; saturated fat: 0.1 g; calories from fat: 3.3%; cholesterol: 0 mg; protein: 2 g; carbohydrate: 16 g; sugar: 3.8 g; fiber: 2.9 g; sodium: 386 mg: calcium: 55 mg; iron: 1.5 mg; vitamin C: 16.6 mg; beta-carotene: 3767 mcg; vitamin E: 0.6 mg

Recipe from The Cancer Survivor’s Guide by Neal Barnard, M.D. and Jennifer K. Reilly, R.D.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Meatless Monday Recipe-Portuguese Kale Soup

Portuguese Kale Soup
Makes 12 1-cup servings; Vegan

This hearty soup is a delicious way to enjoy calcium-rich kale. This is for a cold, rainy night in San Antonio and for me a cold, snowy night in Colorado Springs... Hope everyone is doing well and I miss all of you!

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cups Vegetable Broth
1 large carrot, diced
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
2 russet potatoes, scrubbed and diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water
1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, undrained
1/2 pound fresh kale
1 7-ounce package vegetarian breakfast sausage links

Heat oil in a large pot and add onion, carrot, and celery. Cook over high heat, stirring often, until onions are soft, about 5 minutes.

Reduce heat to medium and stir in potatoes, garlic, oregano, basil, black pepper, and salt. Add water, then cover and cook, stirring often, 5 minutes.

Stir in beans and their liquid and broth. Cover and simmer until potatoes are just tender, about 10 minutes.

Remove stems from kale and chop leaves into small pieces. Add to soup.

Cut vegetarian breakfast sausage links into bite-size chunks and add to soup. Cover and simmer until kale is tender, about 5 minutes.


Per 1-cup serving

Calories: 127; Fat: 2.6 g; Saturated Fat: 0.4 g; Calories from Fat: 18.7%; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Protein: 7.5 g; Carbohydrates: 19.6 g; Sugar: 1.8 g; Fiber: 4.1 g; Sodium: 334 mg; Calcium: 69 mg; Iron: 2.6 mg; Vitamin C: 12.2 mg; Beta Carotene: 1813 mcg; Vitamin E: 0.9 mg

Found: www.pcrm.org
Source: Healthy Eating for Life for Women by Kristine Kieswer; recipe by Jennifer Raymond, M.S., R.D.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Meatless Monday Recipe: In-the-Red Smoothie

In-the-Red Smoothie

Bright red berries are among the richest sources of health-promoting antioxidants. This smoothie gives you another way to drink your grapes and berries, along with other nourishing fruits. For all who feel like they over indulged this holiday season and for those who may have left over cranberries in the freezer, this is a perfect recipe.... Happy New Year Everyone! I'm having a hard time trying to figure out what is in season in Colorado since it's winter and cold.... brrr....

Ingredients

Makes about 6 servings

1 cup ice cubes
1/2 cup fresh cranberries
1/2 cup red grapes
1/2 cup fresh pineapple chunks, or 1 can (4-ounce) pineapple chunks packed in juice, undrained
1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
1 tablespoon agave nectar, maple syrup, or other sweetener (optional)

Directions

Put all the ingredients in a blender. Turn the blender on low speed and gradually increase to high speed, processing until smooth.

Nutrition Information | Per serving (1/4 recipe):

calories: 52; fat: 0.2 g; saturated fat: 0 g; calories from fat: 2.8%; cholesterol: 0 mg; protein: 0.5 g; carbohydrate: 13.4 g; sugar: 9 g; fiber: 2 g; sodium: 3 mg: calcium: 20 mg; iron: 0.5 mg; vitamin C: 18 mg; beta-carotene: 21 mcg; vitamin E: 0.4 mg

Recipe by Ellen Jaffe Jones from Eat Vegan on $4 a Day