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16 ounces fresh strawberries, hulled
1 1/2 cups (or one 13 1/2-ounce can) coconut milk or almond milk
1/4 cup honey, or to taste
1 vanilla bean, scraped, or 3 teaspoons of vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
1/2 cup chia seeds

Place the strawberries, coconut milk, honey, vanilla, and lime zest in a blender and blend until smooth.
Taste and add more honey if desired.
Place the chia seeds in a large bowl, pour the strawberry mixture on top, and whisk thoroughly. Let stand for 10 minutes and whisk again.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 3 days.
Stir the pudding before serving.
The longer it sits, the thicker the pudding will become; if it is too thick, whisk in a little water (or coconut water).

Spoon into individual cups or bowls and garnish.

Serves 4-6

Note:
Sweeteners: Honey may be substituted with other sweeteners like maple syrup, agave nectar, etc.
Garnish ideas: strawberries, coconut flakes, lime zest, chopped or slivered nuts, fresh mint.

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4 flour tortillas (10 inches)
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 large onion, diced
1 jalapeno chile, minced (remove seeds and ribs for less heat)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, drained and rinsed
12 ounces beer, or 1 1/2 cups water
1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn
4 scallions, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
8 ounces non-dairy cheddar cheese, shredded (2 1/2 cups)

Preheat oven to 400°

With a paring knife, trim tortillas to fit a 9-inch springform pan.
Use the bottom of the pan as a guide. Set aside.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add onion, jalapeño, garlic, and cumin; season with salt and pepper.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes.
Add beans and beer, and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to medium; simmer until liquid has almost evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes.
Stir in corn and scallions, and remove from heat. Taste and adjust for seasoning.
Fit a trimmed tortilla in bottom of springform pan; layer with 1/4 of the beans and 1/2 cup of cheese.
Repeat three times, using 1 cup cheese on top layer.
Bake until cheese melts, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove side of pan; sprinkle pie with scallions.
To serve, slice into wedges.

Serves 6

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1 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes (peeled and cut in 1-inch cubes)
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons vegan Worcestershire sauce
1/2 sweet onion, peeled and finely diced
1 cup chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups rolled oats, not steel cut
1/2 cup cashews, finely chopped

Serving suggestions

toasted potato buns
avocado, peeled and thinly sliced
vegan mayonnaise
pickled red onions
green lettuce leaves
Dijon mustard

Preheat oven to 400ºF.

In a large bowl, toss sweet potatoes and garlic with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Place on baking sheet, fitted with parchment paper and roast for 35-45 minutes or until tender. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly.
In the bowl of a food processor, pulse to combine sweet potato, Worcestershire sauce, onion, and chickpeas.
Remove mixture to a large bowl and add the rolled oats and cashews and mix to combine.
Form into five patties using an ice cream scoop.
In a heated, large sauté pan, add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and heat over medium-high heat.
Add patties and cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes, flip and cook another 4 minutes. Remove and keep warm.
Makes 5-8 burgers, depending on size

Note: use a plastic lid and plastic wrap to help form the burger patties into perfect rounds.
Recipe inspired by the television program, The Chew.

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3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons nondairy butter
1 1/2 pound butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 large onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 celery rib, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons minced peeled ginger
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon curry powder
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup red lentils, picked over and rinsed
2 quarts water
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste
salt and pepper to taste

Cilantro oil

1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt

Soup

Heat oil with butter in a large heavy pot over medium heat until foam subsides.
Cook squash, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, ginger, and 1 teaspoon salt, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened and beginning to brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
Stir in curry powder and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Cook, stirring frequently, 2 minutes.
Add lentils and water and simmer, covered, until lentils are tender, about 1 hour.
Stir in lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.

Cilantro oil

Purée cilantro, oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a blender.
Serve soup drizzled with cilantro oil.

Note: Soup, without cilantro oil, can be made 3 days ahead and chilled.

Serves 4-6

 

 

 

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1 large eggplant (about 1 1/2 pounds), trimmed and sliced lengthwise into four 1/2-inch thick planks
1/2 cup BBQ sauce, divided
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 red onion, halved and sliced into thin wedges
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 slices non-dairy provolone or mozzarella cheese (1/8-inch thick slices)
4 ciabatta or hoagie rolls, split and toasted
1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise
2 pepperoncini peppers, from a jar, thinly sliced

Position oven rack six inches from the heat source and preheat broiler on high.
Line broiler pan or rimmed baking sheet with foil.
Brush eggplant slices on both sides with 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Arrange slices on foil-lined pan.
Broil eggplant until browned and soft, about 4 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss mushrooms and red onion with oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and reserve.
Remove broiler pan from oven, flip eggplant slices, and brush with 2 more tablespoons BBQ sauce.
Scatter mushroom mixture around the eggplant on the pan and broil until browned and soft, about 3 minutes more.
Add 1 slice of cheese to each eggplant plank and continue to broil until cheese is melted and browned, about 2 minutes more.
To assemble the sandwiches, brush the top toasted half of each roll with 1 tablespoon mayonnaise and each bottom half with 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce.
Layer an eggplant slice, some mushroom mixture, and a few slices of pepperoncini on the bottom of each roll.
Close the sandwiches and serve immediately.

Note:  Makes 4 sandwiches

 

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1 small sweet potato
6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
1 portobello mushroom cap
1/2 small zucchini
1 small shallot, finely diced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 cup cooked quinoa
3/4 cup dried breadcrumbs
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
4 sandwich rolls, split, toasted
Guacamole, sliced tomatoes, and sprouts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°

Prick sweet potato all over with a fork, rub with 1 tablespoon oil, then season with salt and pepper.
Roast directly on oven rack until tender, 30-45 minutes. Cool.
Remove and discard skin , mash flesh with a fork. Set aside.
Remove stem from mushroom, discard.
Pulse cap in food processor until finely chopped.
Coarsely grate zucchini on large holes of a box grater.
Place in a kitchen towel, squeeze out excess liquid.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat.
Cook shallot and red pepper flakes, stirring often, until shallot is soft, about 2 minutes.
Add mushroom and zucchini, cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to release their juice, approximately 2 – 4 minutes.
Transfer to a large bowl.
Mix in quinoa. Season with salt and pepper. Let cool.
Add breadcrumbs, lemon juice, and 1/4 cup reserved mashed sweet potato to quinoa mixture. Mix well.
Taste and adjust seasoning.
If mixture is too loose, add more mashed sweet potato to bind.
Divide mixture into 4 portions and form into patties, pressing firmly together with your hands.
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.
Cook 2 patties until golden brown, approximately 2 – 4 minutes per side.
Season with salt and pepper.
Repeat with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and 2 patties.
Place patties on toasted sandwich rolls.
Add guacamole, sliced tomatoes and sprouts (optional)

Serves 4

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Tart Filling
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 large pears, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
lemon zest from one lemon
Dash of salt
1/4 cup orange marmalade (for glazing)

Tart Filling Directions
In a large bowl, add the sugar, cinnamon, ginger, lemon juice, lemon zest.
Mix to combine.
Add the pears and toss to coat. Set aside.

Tart
No-Fail Pie Crust recipe, or your favorite recipe, chilled
1 tablespoon non-dairy milk
1 tablespoon amber agave syrup
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Preheat oven to 425ºF.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, add the non-dairy milk and agave syrup and whisk together.
In another small bowl add the sugar, cinnamon and ginger.
Mix to combine.

On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled pie dough into a 13 inch x 10 inch rectangle.
Place dough on baking sheet.
Place the pears in two shingled rows across the tart to cover the tart completely.
Roll 1-inch of each side of the tart upwards and fold into the center.
Brush the edges of the pie dough with milk/syrup mixture.
Dust with cinnamon-sugar-ginger mixture.
Bake at 425ºF for 10 minutes, then reduce the oven to 350ºF.
Continue baking for 20 minutes.
Remove from the oven to a baking rack and allow to cool.
While still slightly warm, brush tart with orange marmalade.

Serves 4-6

Note: Can substitute apples for the pears.

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2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped onions
1 tablespoon minced garlic
28 ounce can diced tomatoes with juice
2 tablespoons fresh oregano, minced, or 1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Rinse the green beans in cold water.
Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
Add onions and garlic, cook until onions are soft.
Add green beans, tomatoes, oregano, salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to simmer, cover pot and cook 1 hour, stirring once or twice.

Serves 6

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3 pounds cooking apples, unpeeled, not cored and cut into quarters
1/2 to 3/4 cup apple cider or apple juice
1 cinnamon stick

In a large saucepan, place apples, apple cider or apple juice and cinnamon stick.
Cover and simmer, stirring often, over medium-low heat until soft, but not mushy, about 20 minutes.
Remove from heat and let cool.
Using a food mill, placing it over a large bowl, pour apple mixture (remove cinnamon stick) into the food mill and process.
Chill applesauce.

Serves 4 to 6

Note: Use a combination of sweet-tart apples like Gala, Fuji, Jonagold, McIntosh, Golden Delicious for a great tasting sauce.