Meatless Monday Recipe-Green Beans and Cranberries

In honor of the up coming holiday season and EVERYONE in my family asking for this recipe. The next several recipes can be used in your holiday meals..... Happy Holiday Season!

Green Beans with Cranberries

In the spring I like to substitute raspberries

2 lbs. of green beans, trimmed
1 cup of cranberries
1 clove of garlic
2 Tbs. of fresh parsley
4 Tbs. of vegetable oil
3 Tbs. of maple syrup
3 Tbs. of apple cider vinegar
1 cup toasted chopped walnuts/almonds

1.) Cook green beans in a large pot of boiling salted water for 5 to 8 minutes or until tender. Drain.

2.) Put the green beans into a dry skillet and heat over medium heat until remaining moisture on beans evaporate. Stir in 2 Tbs. of vegetable oil, cranberries and parsley and coat well. Cook until heated through about 5 minutes.

3.) Whisk together vinegar, maple syrup, and remaining oil. In a large serving bowl add green beans/cranberries and walnuts. Coat with vinegar/syrup mixture tossing to cover the green beans and cranberries. Serve and enjoy.

Meatless Monday Recipe-Vegan Creamed Spinach

Vegan Creamed Spinach
Serves 6; Vegan

So, last Friday I went to a cooking demo at Whole Foods and learned about this recipe. To make it a complete meal add some tofu and glass noodles for a more stir fry look and feel. Now that things have calmed down I should be on a more regular schedule.... So, Happy Eating and have a Happy Tofurkey Day Everyone!

1 1/2 lbs. baby spinach and/or kale
1 cup plain, unsweetened almond milk or soy milk
2 teaspoons orange zest; finely grated
2 teaspoons lemon zest; finely grated
1/4 cup low-sodium vegetable stock
1/2 cup yellow onion, minced
4 Tablespoons sliced almonds, toasted
Pinch of nutmeg if desired
**glass noodles
**firm tofu--organic

Steam spinach with a few Tablespoons of water until just wilted. Squeeze out excess water and coarsely chop.

Place almond milk or soy, orange zest, and lemon zest in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer, stirring frequently until reduced by half.

Heat vegetable stock over medium heat in saute pan and add onion. Cook until onion is translucent. Add spinach and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated.

Add almond milk or soy depending what you are using to spinach and cook until thickened, stirring occasionally. Season with a pinch of nutmeg, if desired and garnish with sliced almonds. ** If making with glass noodles cook according to the package and either fry the tofu or cook with "milk" orange zest and lemon zest.

Meatless Monday Recipe: Apple-Almond Quinoa

I used pears instead of apples, since that is what I like better. This still came out very yummy!

Since apples are in abundance during the fall season, why not take advantage of this versatile fruit? This vegetarian quinoa dish is full of apples, cinnamon and almonds and adds a fun twist to your quinoa. It makes for a nice gluten-free breakfast cereal or for a savory side dish that goes well with a salad. Very comforting and delicious!

Apple-Almond Quinoa

Ingredients:

1 cup quinoa
1¾ cup water
2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
½ medium onion, chopped
½ cup carrots, peeled and shredded
1 Granny Smith apple or apple of choice, unpeeled and cubed
½ teaspoons cinnamon
4 tablespoons sliced almonds, lightly toasted
1 teaspoon palm sugar or your favorite sweetener
½ teaspoon sea salt
Dash of pepper

Directions:

1. Rinse quinoa well and add to pot along with water. Heat to boiling and reduce to a very low simmer. Cook until liquid evaporates, about 15 to 20 minutes. Don’t stir while cooking.

2. Sauté onions and carrots in pan with olive oil on medium heat, stirring occasionally. After about 5 minutes, add apples and more oil if needed. Cook until tender. Stir in cinnamon, almonds and palm sugar.

3. Mix quinoa with apple mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serves 4 to 6. Cooking time 30 minutes.


Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/apple-almond-quinoa.html#ixzz1d7prYKsB

Meatless Monday Recipe: Honey-Glazed Tofu on Pumpkin Seed Couscous

Honey-Glazed Tofu on Pumpkin Seed Couscous
Serves 6


Sorry to be SO late on this, but we're just beginning to get settled from the drive. I'm not sure how this is going to taste, since I don't have anything in the kitchen yet. So, hopefully, this comes out yummy.... If not, one out of the many is not bad! ~_^

Honey-Glazed Tofu
2 10-oz. pkgs. extra-firm tofu
2 tsp. cracked black pepper
2 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup honey

Pumpkin Seed Couscous
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
2 medium carrots, chopped (1 cup)
1 cup frozen edamame, thawed
2 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat couscous
1/2 cup toasted unsalted pumpkin seeds


To make Honey-Glazed Tofu:

1. Place tofu between two plates and set heavy pot on top. Drain 10 minutes, and pat dry. Cut tofu into 3/8-inch-thick slices. Combine pepper, thyme, and salt in small bowl. Coat tofu slices with pepper mixture, and set aside.

To make Pumpkin Seed Couscous:

2. Bring broth, carrots, edamame, olive oil, and salt to a boil in covered saucepan. Remove from heat, stir in couscous and cover. Let steam 5 minutes, then fluff with fork.

3. Meanwhile, heat oil and honey in large skillet over medium-high heat until bubbling. Place tofu in pan, and cook 3 minutes. Turn, and cook 3 minutes more, spooning thickening sauce over tofu.

4. To serve: Stir pumpkin seeds into couscous. Spoon onto plates, and top with Honey-Glazed Tofu.

Per SERVING: Calories: 577, Protein: 26g, Total fat: 26g, Saturated fat: 3g, Carbs: 71g, Cholesterol: mg, Sodium: 444mg, Fiber: 10g, Sugars: 27g

Found: Vegetarian Times