VEGAN CHRISTMAS/VEGAN RICE KRISPIE SQUARES

Happy Holidays everyone!

I had the most wonderful christmas. Its nice to be back in Campbell River with my whole family at this time of year. It really makes it feel like Christmas. Especially with my boyfriend here with us now. Since everyone was home for this Christmas my sister, my boyfriend and I decided we would all cook a huge vegan christmas dinner for everyone. We went out shopping and bought TONS of supplies. I made all the desserts the night before. I made my vegan peanut butter cups (here's the link to the recipe, http://herrrbivore.blogspot.ca/2015/01/vegan-gluten-free-peanut-butter-cups.html

and something new! Vegan Rice Krispie Squares which i'm going to share the recipe for on this post. Since I had 10 mouths to feel I figured I'd take the easy way out this year and buy a tofurky roast.( Click on "tofurky roast" to check out the holiday roasts on their website) It was my first time buying the tofurky holiday roast and I was really impressed!! Although a little small for the price of the roast it is seriously scrumptious and saved me SOO much time not having to make my own roast. Plus it came with a jerky wish stick and two huge vegan brownies that were delicious, although crumbly. It made it well worth the $24.99 I spent on it. Everyone really enjoyed it and it pulled the whole spread together. My sister made two huge trays of brussel sprouts that were roasted and eaten faster than anything on the table. My boyfriend helped prep everything with me to make our dishes. I made a turnip, sweet potato, carrot dish baked with onion, garlic and herbs. As well as nugget potatoes, baked. One huge tray of yams, gravies, a huge tray of vegan stuffing which i've already included in my blog post from last holiday season. Check it out here, 

http://herrrbivore.blogspot.ca/2014/10/vegan-seitan-pinto-bean-roast-with.html
There is also a recipe for a vegan seitan roast if you can't afford a tofurky one or you want to make your own from scratch!

I also made 4 stuffed yellow peppers that were stuffed with quinoa salad. Just in case someone extra showed up because in my house, that ALWAYS happens, We all made so many dishes we could have gotten lost in them. Everyone was stuffed completely full for the rest of the night. I think my favorite thing about christmas is the big family meals everyone has together. There is no greater satisfaction than cooking, serving and watching people enjoy your food. Especially when you know no animals were harmed in the making and your meal is 100% cruelty free. 

I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays as much as I did and wish you all the happiest new year.

See you in 2016!!!

VEGAN RICE KRISPIE SQUARE

3/4 of a bag of Dandies Vegan Marshmallows (Click their name if you want a link to their website to check out their awesome products!)
3 tablespoons of earth balance vegan butter, melted
5 cups of Rice Krispie Squares

Now this recipe is pretty easy. The hardest part is making sure you dont overcook your marshmallows. All you have to do is melt your butter in a large frying pan. One that is big enough to fit all your ingredients because this will be where you mix it together. Once your butter is melted add all your marshmallows. It should be at low-med heat. If its too high your marshmallows will go hard and crunchy. If it's too low it won't melt forever so make sure you're keeping an eye on it. Stirring it every couple minutes to make sure it's not sticking, your marshmallows will begin to melt. If its melting uneven you can flip them over to speed it up. That's what I did. Marshmallows tend to melt on one side. I swear to god these marshmallows are SOOOOOOOO much better than regular marshmallows. Not only are they chewy, good for you and satisfying they have a real food like quality to them that regular marshmallows don't. Regular marshmallows seriously gross me out haha. Who wants to eat animal bone!?!?! So while you wait for your marshmallows to melt make sure you're stirring them together to make a big pile of melted marshmallow. Once they are completely melted (around 10 minutes) begin to add your rice krispies one cup at a time. Reduce your heat to low.

Stirring while adding to make sure they are being incorporated evenly and doesn't turn into one big, gross clump. Once you have added all your rice krispies and everything is stirred in evenly remove the frying pan from heat and turn your burner off.

 Slightly oil two pans or one big one to press your rice krispie squares into. Pour an even amount into both pans and begin to press down with a spatula. This is forming your rice krispie squares so the more compact and tightly stuck together the better. So press it down for a good couple minutes but don't over do it or your rice krispie squares will get crushed.

Once you've pressed it all together nice and tight you can cover your rice krispie squares with either saran wrap or a plate. Make sure not to put them in an airtight container though or they will get completely rock hard. They need to be able to breath. These were a huge hit for my christmas dessert and everyone loved them and said they were just like regular rice krispie squares! Even my dad who HATES trying my vegan food. Hahaha. Hopefully you and your family enjoys this as much as mine did .
Happy Cruelty Free Cooking!

VEGAN KORMA CURRY

Hey everyone! WOW, It's been a while. Life is great and things are wrapping up nicely for 2015. I've been working my butt off at 2 jobs now so I've been SERIOUSLY busy. Between that, christmas shopping, baking, cleaning, cooking etc.. life has been non stop!  I recently got a new oven so you'll be getting some brand new awesome recipes from me for the holiday season. My boyfriend and I also went to Vancouver to see L7!!!!! Which was probably one of the best moments of my life. Ive loved that band since I was 13 so there was some serious nostalgia at that show. We also went to CARTEMS DONUTERIE while in Vancouver. YOU NEED TO GO. If you haven't stop everything you're doing and go right now. They blew me away. Stole my heart. Their earl grey donut made my week. Also the vegan apple fritters AND the apple pie stuffed donuts!? It's like I had died and gone to heaven. I really love donuts. Always have, always will. We carried home a box just so we could enjoy them at home hehehe. I did hear a rumour that they are going to make ALL their donuts vegan. Not sure if it's true yet but wouldn't that be neat!!

 I attached a link to their website on their name above if you'd like to check them out!

I figured I should check up on everyone and give you another awesome recipe to make during this holiday season. I'll be back around christmas to make a post about our christmas feast but until then hopefully this satisfies your craving.

Although Korma Curry isn't the traditional dish you'd generally serve at a North American Christmas dinner it's still an awesome dish and definitely deserves being shared. Korma generally is a yogurt or cream based mild indian dish. Generally served with fish, meat or vegetables. I made mine with a coconut cream base. It was splendid! I think a couple scoops of natural coconut based vegan yogurt would have really made it that much better, if you don't have that you can use this recipe and it'll be just as good. I'm going to be exploring a lot more into specific indian dishes to make them vegan style. It's a pretty easy thing to do since a lot of indian dishes are generally vegetarian based. That being said if you're ever in a bind for food in an unknown place you know you can always go to an indian restaurant and find some vegan friendly food. I hope you enjoy my Vegan Korma as much as my partner and I did. We are going to be having the leftovers tonight!

Stayed tuned for some more dishes coming up soon! Happy Cruelty Free Cooking!!

VEGAN KORMA CURRY

Recipe

serves 4

2 cloves garlic, diced

1/4 white onion, diced

4 small potatoes, chopped, boiled then fried

1 can organic chickpeas, drained then rinsed

1 can organic coconut milk

2 big handfuls of spinach, chopped

2 teaspoons ajwain seeds

2 teaspoons coriander*

2 tablespoons curry powder*

1 teaspoon turmeric*

1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala

dash of chili flakes

*ingredients with a star beside them are the ones you can add a little more of if you want a bit more kick to your korma. This dish is generally mild so my spices were according to a mild flavour.

Serve your Korma over a bed of rice. I flavoured mine when I made it

Rice recipe

2 cups water

1 cup basmati rice

2 tablespoons of curry powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon butter, stirred in after rice is finished and cooled a bit

First, put on your rice. I'm sure you all know how to cook rice without a rice cooker but just in case... Add 2 cups of water to a pot and turn to med-hi heat. Add one cup of rice and your spices. Stir in spices so they blend well with the rice. Place lid over pot. Once your pot of rice begins to boil reduce heat to min and open the lid slightly allowing steam to escape. Let cook for 15-20 minutes. Once your rice is done, fluff it with a fork. This helps make it not stick together in a big clump. Once your rice has cooled a bit stir in your butter. This makes your rice creamy and gives it a little extra flavour that pairs really nicely with curry. Place rice off to the side with a lid on top to keep it warm.

Now time to make Korma!

Wash and chop all your vegetables. Grab a medium sized pot. Fill it half full with water and turn to med-hi heat. Place a lid over top. This pot will be to flash boil your potatoes.

This helps give them a good consistency and ensures they are cooked fully. Once the pot of water has come to a boil, add your potatoes. Boil for five minutes. Get a large frying pan. Add some olive oil and turn to med heat. Sautee your garlic and onion with a dash of the ajwain seeds for 5 minutes.

 Drain your potatoes and add them to the frying pan along with your coconut milk, chickpeas and spinach. Stir everything together then add your spices. Mix all your spices in really well. By this point your coconut milk should be bubbling a little bit and that means you're ready to reduce your heat to min, place a lid over top and let it cook for around 25 minutes. You can cook it for a little bit less if you want a more creamy base. If you want a less creamy base cook it for a little longer but keep an eye on it so you don't over cook it. Stir the frying pan every couple of minutes to make sure nothing is sticking. This also helps the spinach blend in with the coconut  milk which helps make your base for the dish. Once you have your desired consistency remove the frying pan from heat and stir it once more. Allow to cool for 5 minutes. Serve it over a bed of rice or some naan bread and there we have it.

Veggie Korma!

VEGAN SEITAN ROAST STUFFED WITH MACARONI

Happy new year! Theres nothing better than starting a new year. It always feels great to  shake off all the bad times and start fresh! I always make  a lot of goals when the year starts too. This year I'm really hoping to start writing my own cookbook and get really into my baked goods. Hopefully by this time next year you'll be able to buy something of mine in a local grocery store! Amongst all that I have a million plans for my boyfriend and I. Overall I'm really excited for 2015. 

So for Christmas I thought I'd go a little crazy and make something I never have before.  Its my own creation.

A combination of my pinto bean seitan roast and my coconut cream mac n cheese! (There's a link attached to the recipes) Unfortunately theres not going to be any point in making an entire recipe and step by step post for this because it's identical to those two recipes.  However I can post pictures and tips!! This roast was absolutely insane and by far my favourite christmas dinner ever. Its most definitely good for any day of the week! 

Enjoy!

You can follow the steps just like the ones in my other recipe. Just be careful not to over stuff your roast so you can wrap it up nice and tight. Cut the macaroni recipe in half in order to make the right amount.          

           Roll your seitan roast out. Scoop your macaroni on top about 3/4 of the seitan roast. Make sure you leave about 1 1/2 inches of just seitan on the side opposite to you. This is what you'll use to pinch it shut. Begin to roll the roast starting with the side closest to you. Roll it gently but tight making sure macaroni stays in. Roll in up in foil, twist the ends and bake! 

VEGAN SEITAN PINTO BEAN ROAST WITH STUFFING

It was thanksgiving the other day in Victoria BC. Which gives me an awesome opportunity to challenge myself. My boyfriend and I usually buy a little field roast quarter loaves for the two of us but since they have ceased shipping to Canada (article will explain) I decided to finally attempt to make my own stuffed roast. WHAT A SUCCESS IT WAS. IM SPEAKING IN CAPS BECAUSE I'M REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF. Making a roast vegan stylez is hard and this one I can confidently say you could feed your meat eatin' friends and they would love it. The stuffing really stepped it up a notch and made it seem like a real roast. 

This recipe also makes enough to invite friends over and have a big meal. I already took 8 large pieces off of it and I still have a quarter of the roast in my fridge. 

The stuffing was too good. It honestly tasted exactly like the kind I used to have back in my meat eating days. 

I used silver hills kings bread for the bread crumbs. If you want to turn your bread into bread crumbs just simply cut up your pieces into small cubes.  Around 1/2 inch in size. Preheat your oven to 400 F. Prepare a casserole dish with some olive oil and toss in your bread. Pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil over top. Spice with whatever you would like. I used garlic powder, pepper and salt. Stir them around well so the oil is spread evenly and bake for 7 minutes or until bread is crispy and brown. 

RECIPE

Vegan Stuffing

5-6 piece of bread cut into bread crumbs = 3 cups bread crumbs

4 stalks celery, chopped fine

1/4 white onion, chopped fine

3 cloves of garlic, minced

half a shallot, diced

2 teaspoons poultry seasoning

1 teaspoon chili spice

pinch of salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

2 drops liquid smoke

1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

4 tablespoons garbanzo bean flour

1/4 cup nutritional yeast

STEPS

In a frying pan on medium heat saute your onion, garlic, shallot and celery until soft. Around 10 minutes. Add your bread crumbs, spices, liquid smoke, vegetable broth, garbanzo bean flour and nutritional yeast. Turn to low-med heat and mix everything together really well. Your breadcrumbs should absorb a lot of your vegetable broth but not all of it so if its too dry add some more vegetable broth, 1 tablespoon at a time. Until everything is moist, not soggy. Fry until all your liquids are absorbed. Around 7-10 minutes. Once your stuffing is ready remove from heat and allow it to cool before stuffing your roast!

*This recipe is great for stuffing the roast but if you want to bake some stuff on the side heres the steps, 

Preheat oven to 350 F. Separate your dry ingredients of your stuffing mix into two even batches. One in a frying pan and one in a oiled casserole dish. Cut your liquid ingredients in half for each mix. Add vegetable broth, liquid smoke, garbanzo bean flour and nutritional yeast to your casserole dish. Stir together well and place in your oven. Bake for 15 minutes or until all liquids are absorbed. 

RECIPE

VEGAN ROAST

1 can pinto beans, drained, blended

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 1/2 cups vital wheat gluten

4 teaspoons poultry seasoning 

2 teaspoons chili powder

2 teaspoons pepper

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon curry powder

1 1/4 cup vegetable broth

2 tablespoons soy sauce

6 drops liquid smoke 

STEPS

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a bowl combine all your dry ingredients and stir together well. Blend your pinto beans with 1 tablespoon of olive oil until smooth. *the bigger the beans are the harder it is to mix it into the gluten

Make a well in the middle of your gluten bowl and add your vegetable broth, soy sauce and liquid smoke.  Start to mix together well and pour your beans in, mixing while stirring. Knead with your hands for 5 minutes. This helps really blend your beans in with the mix. Once everything is mixed together well and your ball of goodness has formed prepare a place on the counter with a large piece of foil. (I used one that was 18' wide) Place your roast on the foil and begin to roll it out forming a rectangle. Roll it out well. If any pieces break its really easy to make it stick back together with your fingers by pinching it. It should be around a 1/4' to 1/2' thick. Any bigger and it won't roll well!  

Once your seitan is ready place a couple big spoonfuls of the stuffing on half of your roast. Make sure theres atleast an inch left on each side of the seitan. Flatten your stuffing down with the back of your spoon. Begin to roll from the side with the stuffing inward. Roll it slightly tight so you can make sure it sticks together but don't squish it. 

Once your roll is all together begin to pinch the open end with a fork. Pressing it into your roast. Make sure its completely blended together. Using your fingers to pinch any loose ends. 

Wrap your roast in foil and bake for 1 hour. 

VEGAN CHILI

Its definitely fall time in Victoria now

Everything looks beautiful. I love all the colors of fall time! It was actually the first cold day out here so I thought I'd make my first chili of the season. It was a good call because my house smells amazing now. I had half a loaf of portofino roasted garlic and cracked pepper bread too! Its made by a local bakery here and it is THE BEST. (I attached their website on local bakery) I wish I could share it with the world because its sooo good. Here's my recipe:) I hope this warms you up in the coolldd season wherever you are. Cheers! 

Recipe

makes 4-6 servings

1 white onion, diced

6 cloves garlic, diced

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 teaspoons chili spice

1 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon salt

Half a red pepper, diced

1 1/4 cup vegetable broth

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can kidney beans, drained, rinsed

1 can chick peas, drained, rinsed

1 can bean medley, drained, rinsed

1 can tomato paste

4 drops liquid smoke

7 tablespoons chili spice

1 1/2 teaspoons pepper

1 teaspoon poultry seasoning

1 handful of fresh thyme

4 basil leaves, diced

Steps

Saute your onion, garlic, chili spice, salt and pepper in a frying pan for 5 minutes. 

 I add some chili spice on mine for extra flavour!

In a large pot on medium heat, combine your vegetable broth, all your vegetables and beans, spices (except chili powder), liquid smoke and tomato paste. Stir together well. Cook for 5 minutes. Add your chili powder and stir well again. Bring to a low boil and reduce to low-med heat with a lid slightly opened. Cook for 1 hour. 

Sprinkle nutritional yeast on top and you're done. Easy right?

BREAKFAST GRANOLA BARS

BREAKFAST GRANOLA BARS

So last night my boyfriend and I had a sweet tooth but weren't sure what to make. I had tons of nuts and peanut butter so i figured I'd make some granola bars. He had a weird request though, Cheerios! My boyfriend LOVES cheerios. So I figured I'd be able to make something good! This was definitely a "whatever you got in your pantry" kind of dessert but its great for taking to work and munching in the morning as well! Try experimenting by putting your favorite cereal in it or maybe some agave syrup instead of jam. Its basic, easy and good for you:)

Recipe

1/2 cup quick oats
1/2 cup graham flour
1/2 cup cheerios
1/4 cup almonds
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup cranberries
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons jam
1 tablespoon almond fresh coconut milk
2 tablespoons earth balance butter, melted
1 cup peanut butter, smooth

Steps

Preheat your oven to 325 F

Combine all ingredients (quick oats-sugar) in a large bowl. Stir together well. Once mixed, add your jam, almond milk, earth balance and peanut butter. Your mixture should begin to form into a big ball. If its too dry you can add more milk or agave syrup. The more sticky stuff you put in it the better they will stay together! Stir it together very well, pushing it down while you're doing this to help make the mixture stick together well.
Rub some earth balance on a baking dish so your granola bars don't stick. Pour your entire mixture into your dish and begin to press it down with a spatula. Continue to press your granola bars for 10 minutes.
 Make sure theres lots in all the corners and edges. The longer you press them the better your granola bars will stick together so keep going as long as you can! Once your granola bars are packed enough sprinkle something on top to finish it. I used coconut shreds. 
Give them one more push to make sure all the coconut will stay on your bars and put it in the oven. Bake for 25 minutes. Let stand for 10-15 minutes before you eat. If its still steaming let it sit longer. If you cut it to soon your bars will fall apart! If you want them  to stay together really well don't cut them that night. Leave them in the dish and refrigerate overnight. Theres no way they will fall apart after that. Enjoy:)

CREAMY SWEET POTATO COCONUT CURRY SOUP

CREAMY SWEET POTATO COCONUT CURRY SOUP

Soup season is here and I've  been enjoying it the right way! Blending soups is my new favorite thing. It helps make the perfect consistency for a soup and its wayyy quicker then waiting for all those big vegetables to cook. I just kind of made this soup up to with all the ingredients in my pantry/fridge. Its that easy! Be creative with what you add and experiment! This recipe is pretty much fail proof. Have fun:)

My hot sauce heart did not work out that time. hahah.

Recipe

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large orange yam cubed

4 potatoes, cubed

4 cloves of garlic, minced

1/2 purple onion, diced

1 piece of ginger, minced

1/2 red pepper, diced

1 broccoli head

1 cup multi colored carrots, diced

4 mushrooms, diced

2 cups vegetable broth

1 cup coconut milk

2 teaspoons turmeric

2 teaspoons curry spice

1 teaspoon poultry seasoning

2 tablespoons nutritrional yeast

1 teaspoon salt

Couple of drops of liquid smoke

Steps
In a large pot add your olive oil and set at low-med heat. Saute garlic and onions for 2 minutes. Add the rest of your vegetables and saute for 5 more minutes. Peel, wash and cut your yams and potatoes. Add them to your pot then add your vegetable broth and coconut milk. Stir together well and bring to a low boil. Add your spices and allow to cook on low-med heat for 15 minutes or until your potatoes and yams are soft. Once its cooked, divide into half and blend the first half. Add back to your pot and blend the second half. The blending consistency is totally up to you! Add your other half and stir together well. Heat for another 5 minutes on a simmer and serve. :)
                                         

MANGO COCONUT RICE PUDDING

MANGO COCONUT RICE PUDDING 

 I had this one night at my boyfriend bosses house. His wife is Thai so she made this amazing, beautiful dessert that was totally traditional. I loved it instantly and was determined to make my own with a little twist! So this is my mango coconut rice pudding recipe:) Hopefully its some what as good as traditional thai mango sticky rice pudding.

Recipe:
1 cup sticky rice
1 1/2 cups water
1 can coconut milk
pinch of salt
6 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoon cinnamon

STEPS

Soak your rice for 20 minutes in a pot. Do not drain. Add a 1/2 cup more water and 1/2 can coconut milk, pinch of salt, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Stir well together and bring a gentle boil on medium heat. Once it's boiling partially cover it with a lid to allow steam to escape and reduce to low-med heat (2-3). Simmer for 20 minutes or until coconut water is completely absorbed by rice. Once absorbed turn off heat and place the lid on tight. Do not remove this from the burner. Let stand for 5-10 minutes. 

To make the coconut drizzle you simply warm the other can of coconut milk in a pot on low heat. Add the 3 remaining tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Stir together well and allow to warm. 

Slice your mango in long thin slices or cube it! I will put this mango cutting guide here because I know how hard it is to get nice mango chunks. Im pretty awesome at it because I'm fijian and I've been eating mango since I can remember so its pretty easy for me.

Once your mango is sliced place a scoop of rice in a bowl. Make a little indent on the top to help hold the mango. Put mango chunks all over your dessert, pour the coconut drizzle on top and sprinkle with cinnamon and powdered sugar:) 

This is the best vegan powdered sugar.

Enjoy!