Strawberry Basil Hand Pies
These are maybe one of the yummiest things I’ve ever made. They take a little work, but they are SO SO worth it. Basically a healthier, adult-friendly pop tart, these sweet little guys are packed with fruit and drizzled in sweet vanilla glaze. They’re buttery, rich, and taste WAY BETTER than store-bought! That I can promise. These babes first debuted in my Homestyle Vegan Cookbook two years ago, but they've become a Sunday morning staple in our house ever since! They're easy to whip up, and are a total crowd pleaser. Who doesn't love pop tarts?!
My second cookbook, a collaborative effort titled 'Vegan Bible' will be out later this year, in October. Lots more fun new recipes coming your way! In the meantime, I thought I'd revisit one of my favorites in case you haven't gotten your copy of the cookbook yet. Seriously cannot wait to hear what you guys think when you try them. And know that if strawberries and basil together isn't your favorite flavor combo, you can always ditch the basil, sub out the strawberries for another fruit, or come up with your own flavor combination entirely! No matter what you decide, they're gonna be good. Let’s bake!
INGREDIENTS
Hand Pies: 1 heaping cup (210 g) fresh or frozen strawberries, sliced 1 tablespoon (15 ml) water (ONLY IF USING FRESH BERRIES) 1 tablespoon (3 g) fresh basil, finely chopped 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon cornstarch 2 cups (315 g) whole wheat pastry flour 1/8th teaspoon salt 2/3 cup (150 g) cold vegan butter 2-4 tablespoons (30-60 ml) ice water Vanilla Glaze: 6 tablespoons (48 g) powdered sugar 1/4 teaspoon vanilla 1-3 teaspoons (5-15 ml) unsweetened almond milk DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 375º. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the strawberries, water (ONLY IF USING FRESH BERRIES), basil, sugar and cornstarch in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally and smashing down the fruit as it cooks. Remove from heat and set aside. In a large bowl, mix together the flour and salt. Cut in the cold butter with a fork or pastry cutter until small crumbs form. Drizzle ice water over the mixture about a tablespoon at a time, mixing with a wooden spoon, until a dough begins to form. The dough should be moist but not sticky. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and shape it into a disc. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough into a large, 1/4 in. thick rectangle. Use a sheet of plastic wrap over the dough to prevent cracking as you roll it out, if needed. Cut the rectangle into 12 equal squares (or rectangles) and move half of them to the lined baking sheet. Scoop about 1 tablespoon of filling onto the 6 laid squares, leaving about 1/4 inch of space around the edge. Using your finger, dab a bit of water around the edges to help seal them. Top each square with its matching other half, pressing around the edges with a fork to seal them. Use a toothpick to poke a poke a few small holes in the top, then bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. While they cook, prepare the glaze by mixing together the powdered sugar, vanilla and unsweetened almond milk. When the hand pies are finished, let them cool on a wire rack for 5-10 minutes before topping with glaze. TIPS Makes 6 hand pies. Leftover hand pies taste great cooled - no need for reheating! You can sub in any berries you prefer here and if basil isn’t for you, go ahead and leave it out. Prefer a lower sugar option? Ditch the glaze!
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Nearly Sugar-Free Muddy Buddies
The Holidays are in full swing and I've been feeling ALL the stress! Between present buying, prepping for the New Year - and my Husband's 30th birthday immediately after, writing my 2nd cookbook manuscript and preparing for yoga auditions at my favorite studio just after the New Year - I've been busy! But we all are this time of year. Wrapping up everything in 2017 up nicely before tearing into the giant gift that is 2018!
Because I'm a totally stress eater, I try to help myself out during this crazy time of year by NOT having tons of sweet treats around to pick at. It's only trouble if I do! That said, it just isn't the Holidays if there isn't some type of snackable chocolate something on the counter! This year I decided to reform my normal chocolate Muddy Buddies recipe and make them something I could snack on - guilt and nearly sugar-free - through Christmas. So I subbed out the powdered sugar for a homemade, sugar-free, monkfruit version, instead! Muddy Buddies are a totally Holiday classic in this house and one of my Husband's favorite things to snack on while watching Christmas movies. The only sugar in these babies are the trace amounts in the cereal and dark chocolate chunks we melted down for coating! We used EnjoyLife's Mega Chocolate Chunks for this recipe since they're allergen-free (and I have all the allergies), but you can use whatever chocolate makes your heart happy. Let's make some muddy buddies!
INGREDIENTS
9 cups Rice Chex (they're vegan - but you can use whatever kind or brand you prefer!) 2 cups powdered monkfruit sweetener OR 1 cup regular monkfruit sweetener (we used Lakanto - but you can also use powdered stevia or even regular powdered sugar here if you prefer) 1 cup vegan chocolate chunks (we used this brand) 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter 1/4 cup vegan butter 1 teaspoon vanilla DIRECTIONS In a large bowl, measure and set aside the cereal. If you're using prepared powdered sugar, go on to the next step. If you've got regular monkfruit sweetener and need to make it in into powdered 'sugar', simply place 1 cup of sweetener into a blender or food processor and process for 1-2 minutes, until the sugar has pulverized into a finer, powered sugar. It should double in size using this method. Set aside. Using the double boiler method (or a microwave!), melt together the chocolate chips, peanut butter, vegan butter and vanilla until creamy, stirring consistently. Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the cereal and use a wooden spoon to gently toss and stir until the cereal is evenly coated. Pour the powdered sugar evenly over the mixture and continue to use the wooden spoon to toss and stir the mixture until the chocolate-coated chex are all evenly covered in a fine layer of powdered sugar. Enjoy or save in air-tight container on the counter or in the fridge for up to a week. Enjoy! NOTES If you prefer regular sugar here, go ahead and use it. If you find another sugar substitute you prefer, use that instead. I can't guarantee the quantity exchange will be 1:1, but a little taste test should help guide you if you're unsure. Serves 8-10. 
VEGAN PROTEIN WAFFLES
I was always a pancakes-kind-of-girl growing up. Every Sunday morning my family would pile into the car and drive to our local diner, Brownies, for some really greasy, disgustingly delicious brunch food. Picture the most quintessential diner heart attack food - now you're there! Haha. I would order a stack of flapjacks with butter and syrup and always got an extra side of syrup. I usually also got a side of corned been hash or bacon, and literally could almost finish it all - even at 10 years old. Yikes! These days, my kind of brunch usually involves much more of the color 'green', at least a few vegetables, and usually a mimosa or two. But sometimes, you just want to go back and have those childhood favorites - without the guilt or greasy food hangover. I prefer the snap of a crispy waffle now more a pile of soggy pancakes, so when I started craving sweet, maple syrup-smothered breakfasts, I knew there had to be a better option for me. I made tons of rounds of waffles and nothing bound together the batter AND gave the cooked waffles a crispy edge like adding in some protein powder. Plus, all of a sudden my waffles carried a protein content of over 20 grams. BONUS! Now they're not only a great breakfast addition, but the perfect post-workout snack, too. So what're we doing still talking about them?! Get out your waffle iron and let's get cooking!
INGREDIENTS
1 cup all-purpose or whole wheat flour (both work well!) 1/4 cup vegan protein powder* 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/4 cups water 2-3 drops vanilla stevia (optional, for a sweeter waffle) 1 tablespoon oil DIRECTIONS In a medium mixing bowl combine the flour, protein powder, baking powder and salt. Create a well in the center of the mixture, and pout into it the water, stevia and oil. Whisk the mixture together until the batter just comes together. Its okay if there are a few lumps! Do not mix until smooth - unless you want flat, chewy waffles. Ick! Let the mixture set for about 5-10 minutes, let scoop the appropriate amount of batter into your waffle iron and let it cook up until the waffle is perfectly fluffy with crispy edges. Keep it going until all your waffles are cooked up. Enjoy! (I like mine with butter and syrup or a bit of peanut butter and fruit!) Leftovers freeze and reheat really well - I highly recommend making a double batch and sticking some in the freezer for easy toaster breakfasts later! NOTES Makes 2-4 waffles, depending on the size of your waffle iron. *I use Sprouts brand Vegan Vanilla Protein Powder. It's pea protein based and has just 1 g of sugar per serving, which is how I am able to keep the sugar in these waffles nearly nonexistent. Use your favorite protein here, but account for textural differences if it is not pea protein. I usually use softened coconut oil here, but you can sub in any flavorless oil you like. Loaded Vegan Nacho Fries
Hi friends! We love great plant-based cheeses over here and one of our favorite brands, Daiya Foods, is launching a bunch of new, improved, and DELICIOUS products TODAY, March 10th, at Expo West! Expo is the biggest food show of the year and only the best products make an expo launch - so you KNOW they're gonna be great. How else can you trust that they're better than ever? Because (lucky me!) I got to taste-test all the new styles and flavors and I can promise you - they are SO good! They're still churning out delicious, dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free plant-based alternatives, but are introducing a few new products this weekend as well - both the improved Daiya Shreds Cutting Board Collection and Cheeze Slices in several flavors. A noticeable improvement from the original version, Daiya is officially stepping up the plant-based cheese game with their new shreds and slices! The new cheeses are made with coconut oil but have the same incredible melt, stretch and taste as dairy-based cheese and can be enjoyed hot or cold. Plus, the cheeses do not contain any titanium dioxide OR carrageenan and are a great source of calcium!
I love that Daiya Foods is passionate about keeping their products plant-based for everyone - whether they’re dairy-intolerant, allergic, vegan, or simply living a healthy lifestyle. As someone with a lot of allergies and dietary restrictions, eating Daiya is a delightfully mindless indulgence. It's comfort food with a conscience! And it's available nearly everywhere these days! In over 22,000 grocery stores across the US and Canada, including Whole Foods, Kroger, Safeway and Publix. Going to Expo West tomorrow? Or not and wondering what all the fuss is about? Check out our 2015 + 2016 blog posts to find out why EVERYONE in the vegan/ blogging/ health field will be there!
INGREDIENTS
1 lb. frozen or fresh-cut french fries 1/4 cup enchilada sauce 1/2 cup Daiya Pepperjack Shreds - Cutting Board Collection 1 cup cooked black beans 1 medium tomato, chopped 1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped 1 jalapeno, thinly sliced 1/2 avocado, halved + thinly sliced cilantro, finely chopped lime wedges, for garnish DIRECTIONS Bake the fries on a baking sheet according to directions or at about 350 degrees for about 40 minutes, flipping halfway through. When finished, move the cooked fries to an oven-safe pan or container (this will be where you assemble your nachos) and set the oven to 'broil' or to at least 450 degrees. Drizzle the enchilada sauce over the fries evenly, then top with the Daiya Pepperjack Shreds. Place the dish in the oven until the cheese is melty, about 3-6 minutes depending on the temperature. Remove the dish from the oven and top the nacho fries evenly with the cooked black beans, chopped tomato and onion, jalapeño, avocado, cilantro + lime and enjoy immediately! NOTES You could also sub in Daiya Shreds - Cutting Board Collection in Cheddar, if you prefer. We loved the extra kick of spicy that the pepper jack gave here! Serves 2-4, depending on your appetites.
Keep an eye out for these updated packages on the shelves from Daiya soon! (And if you'll be at Expo today, come visit me at the Ozery Booth in Hall E before heading upstairs to Hall D to try Daiya's samples 😊) The Daiya Slices are the perfect addition to your favorite sandwiches. They are round in shape for convenience, and come in an updated, re-sealable package. Available in four crave-worthy flavors, including Cheddar Style, Swiss Style, Provolone Style, and the newest flavor - American Style. The new Daiya Shreds – Cutting Board Collection are perfect on pizza, cheesy pastas, your favorite Mexican dish (like our Nacho Fries above!), or in a simple grilled cheese sandwich. With a more dairy-like flavor and texture compared to Daiya Original Shreds, the Cutting Board Collection features the same amazing melt and stretch in Cheddar Style, Mozzarella Style and Pepperjack Style. You can find more on the new - and all of - Daiya Food's products here. See you all at Expo this weekend!
Vanilla Cashew Butter Cups
Guys the countdown is on - I am officially 100 days away from my WEDDING! Don't worry, I'm not freaking out or anything (I'm totally freaking out) and the stress has been minimal (It's all LIES!), so it couldn't be going any smoother (Is it too late to elope?). That being said, I've only got so much control over the outside vendors and other things happening this far out, but I have total control over my workouts and diet, and that may be the only thing keeping me sane. I'm the kind of person who works really well with a goal date in mind, so knowing I want to tone up before the wedding has been fun to work toward. I'm in decent shape, but have been really stepping up my runs and strength-training workouts, and working on cutting out all the sugar from my diet. I've had great results lately, losing inches around my waist and thighs and I think more than the working out, it is due to the removal of sugar from my diet. We've all heard it by now - sugar is AS addictive as hard drugs to the brain. That's right, your brain's pleasure centers can't distinguish the two, they just know it feels great and they want it again. Being a sugar-addict sounds like a silly thing, but in reality most Americans are totally hooked and don't even realize it.
When I officially started cutting out the sugar, about three months ago, it was due to a combo of wedding prep and having rented 'That Sugar Documentary' and realizing it was time to make a change. The doc showed that the USDA recommends about 10% of calories per day come from sugar - this was about 25 grams of sugar per day, for most people - but the doc showed that most people are eating closer to 80 grams of sugar per day. WHAT?! That's more than 3x as much! I was blown away. And I immediately thought, 'Not me!' because of course I wanted to believe I was achieving something better and because we all want to believe that we're being successful. I'm a pretty healthy eater, but that doesn't mean I'm eating healthfully all the time. Pro tip: I WASN'T. When I started recording my eaten sugars I was totally embarrassed - the first day, I hit 36 grams by 3 pm and was still craving dessert all night. There just seem to be hidden sugars everywhere! Now, I'm not a total nut. I eat healthy, normal foods like fruit without checking the sugars, I just eat it in moderation. Because of course pancakes aren't the same as an apple. But not all people know that! So i'm here to give you a heads up. Cut the sugar out! It was a hard two weeks of cravings and a few headaches for me, but overall the withdrawal symptoms weren't as bad as I expected at all and now, I don't get the cravings at all. (Unless I'm on my period - those cravings conquer all.) So how did I cut the sugar out? Well, I started weaning myself off by making myself some sugar-free and super low-sugar treats to keep in the fridge. It helped hugely! Now when I wanted a sweet treat, I'd have a little nibble off of one of my guilt-free fridge treats instead of a 1/2 pint of ice cream. And it worked! Soon I wasn't craving the sweets as often, and when I did, I had a healthy solution to reach for before I could make an unhealthy choice instead. That's it! No magic pill, just an upcoming wedding and a solid amount of will power. You can do it too! And the perfect way to start is with these - almost TOO easy to make - Vanilla Cashew Butter Cups! They're rich, creamy, and decadent - and you'd NEVER know they had no added sugar. I used the recipe for the Vanilla Cashew Butter from my Homestyle Vegan Cookbook (it's got great reviews on Amazon!), but you could definitely use the nut butter of your choice here instead. Quick note: The chocolate you buy will affect the sugar in this dessert. If you buy a 70% + Dark Chocolate like I did, the sugar should be under 9 grams per serving, which is reasonably low. You can look for a sugar-free chocolate, but I think real, rich, dark chocolate really works great here. And plus, we don't want to demonize sugar, just eat a ton less of it. Looking for more low-sugar desserts? Find our favorites here. Also, we want to give a shout to Honeycomb Studio in Atlanta for the gorgeous, hand-made, small-batch porcelain plates in the photo. They are almost too pretty to use - we love them!
INGREDIENTS
Vanilla Cashew Butter (from my Homestyle Vegan Cookbook) 2 cups raw cashews 1 vanilla bean, scraped 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon pinch of salt Vanilla Cashew Butter Cups 1 cup cashew vanilla cashew butter 1/4 cup coconut oil (optional) 3 cups dairy-free chocolate chips or chunks 1-3 drops vanilla stevia (optional) DIRECTIONS Vanilla Cashew Butter Preheat oven to 325º. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the cashews onto the baking sheet and roast for 10-15 minutes, stirring once, until golden and fragrant. Let the cashews cool completely, then pour them into a food processor with the vanilla bean innards, cinnamon and salt and process until smooth. It might take a while - it took us about 5 continuous minutes of processing to get a super smooth consistency. Of course, if you prefer it a little chunky, you do you - just stop processing while there are still some chunks left. Pour the nut butter into an airtight container and set aside. Vanilla Cashew Butter Cups Line a muffin tin with paper liners and set aside. Using the double boiler method, begin to melt the chocolate chips over medium heat, stirring as they soften. Pour in the coconut oil and stevia, if using, and continue to stir until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Pour about 1 tablespoon of melted chocolate into each lined cup. Pop the tray into the freezer for 5-10 minutes to set. Pull the tray out and scoop about 1 tablespoon of the vanilla cashew butter onto the chocolate layer of each cup, centering it as best you can. Once all the cups have the cashew butter, pop the tray in the freezer for another 5-10 minutes to set again. While it sets, make sure your chocolate it still melty and ready to go. When set, pull the tray from the freezer again and top each cup with 1-2 tablespoons of the remaining melted chocolate mixture, until the cashew butter is completely covered or 'sealed' within each cup. Pop the tray back in the freezer to set, another 10-15 minutes. Once set, remove the cups from the tray and enjoy! They will soften at room temperature if coconut oil was added, so keep them in a cool place until you'r ready to eat them. NOTES Makes 12-14 cups. Leftover vanilla cashew butter doesn’t need to be refrigerated, and should keep at least two weeks out of the fridge. It will last indefinitely in the fridge. Leftover cups are best saved in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer for up to 6 months. 
Nearly Sugar-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
With my new Homestyle Vegan cookbook hitting shelves November 1st, my first book signing event and the Holidays coming up, I've really been doing my best stay low stress and to avoid sugar. Not only do I have wedding I'm trying to look pretty great for, but sugar is just not my friend. It's the number one food that makes me gain weight and really screws with my face, causing breakouts. I really try not to eat much of it as part of my everyday diet. Besides foods with natural sugar like fresh fruit, of which I indulge plenty, I really don't eat it. Except when I'm menstruating - then all bets are off, friends. Then I will fight you for your french fries. Then I will eat an entire pint of ice cream with no regrets. Then I am unstoppable, and Alex knows it's best to just get out of my way and let me eat through the cramps and lower back pain. But since I can be kind of rage-binge-y at that time of the month, I've started combatting later, meaner, hungrier me with some seriously indulgent-tasting, nearly-sugar-free chocolate chip cookies!
They are soft, chewy, sweet, and taste like they should be packed with sugar - but NOPE! Just a couple of optional tablespoons in this recipe, and it doesn't even have to be refined. I've made these cookies maybe 30 times at this point and have gotten the recipe down to an exact science. They are the perfect dessert or sweet treat when you need one, and make a decent meal when you need more like 7. They're stuffed with chocolate chips, which I think helps to totally mask the flavor stevia in the recipe. This is actually the FIRST recipe on this site using stevia because I've always been so hesitant to bake with it. But I am experimenting with it and so far, so good. Even Alex says these cookies pass his 'no after-taste' test, which is good, because a lot of sugar-less sweeteners don't! These cookies taste heavenly and indulgent, but are lighter and way more guilt-free than you'd ever imagine. Plus, CHOCOLATE. So go ahead, have four. You know I'm going to!
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon ground flax 3 tablespoons warm water 1 1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or AP flour) 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup softened coconut oil 2 tablespoons brown sugar, maple syrup, or your favorite sweetener (optional) 3/4 teaspoon liquid vanilla stevia 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (double if using unflavored liquid stevia) 3/4 cup non-dairy chocolate chips DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium mixing bowl combine the flax and water, set aside to gelatinize. In a separate, larger mixing bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Form a well in the center and set aside. In the medium mixing bowl with the flax mixture add the coconut oil, sugar or maple syrup, stevia and vanilla. Whisk to combine completely, then pour the mixture into the well formed by the dry ingredients. Use electric mixers to beat the mixture together until well combined. If not using an electric mixer, mix with a wooden spoon until you can't anymore, then finish it off with your hands. Once combined, pour in the chocolate chips and mix 'em in. Use a cookie scoop or spoon to scoop 1-inch balls onto a lined or lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are golden. Remove from the oven and move the cookies to a cooling rack. Enjoy! NOTES Makes about 18 cookies. Leftover cookies save well in a sealed container on the counter for up to a week. Lavender Tea Latte
I wanted to post this recipe nearly a week ago for you but first my trackpad on my laptop stopped working and I was forced to travel to the deep dark depths of the Apple Store to get it fixed. As soon as I got it back, my host server was down! Ugh, what a week. We do, however, have some exciting events coming up!
This Friday, June 17th we'll be doing our last Tacolepsy pop-up at Green Bliss Cafe in Fullerton. Starting on July 15th we'll be at Renewable Farms in Anaheim with music, art, and a full outdoor patio under the lights. Oh yeah, and BEER! Its the best way to spend a Friday night for sure, and is totally family-friendly, so make sure you come eat with us. Starts at 6pm and goes until about 10pm! This Tuesday, July 21st, for Fullerton's Day Of Music, we're working with Wander Outfitters to make and serve vegan chili and cornbread for everyone out celebrating. Stop by to say hi and for a warm bowl of spicy, homemade chili and to see some of our new Plant-Based Adventures merch! But anyway, back to this recipe. Buying tea lattes costs way too much these days. It’s rarely under $5, especially with the up-charge for non-dairy milk. And who can afford that nonsense? Well now you don’t need to! This easy-to-make Lavender Tea Latte is like the chai lattes prettier, more summery cousin - and can be made totally caffeine-free! Soothing and sweet, with just the right amount of creaminess, this drink is the perfect morning treat or nighttime sipper.
INGREDIENTS:
12 oz unsweetened almond milk 1 lavender tea bag OR 1 tablespoon loose leaf lavender tea in a strainer 1 tablespoon maple syrup, agave or sweetener of choice 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract lavender flowers, for garnish dollop of coconut whipped cream (optional) DIRECTIONS: Heat the milk and tea in a medium-sized saucepan until hot, but do not bring to a boil. Remove the tea bags or strainer and whisk in the maple syrup, ginger and vanilla. Using a milk frother or high speed blender, add your desired amount of foam to the drink. Scoop in a dollop of coconut whip, if you choose, then sprinkle with fresh lavender flowers for garnish and enjoy immediately! NOTES: Serves 1 You can use any tea you like in place of the Lavender to create a tea latte. Strong green, fruity black and earthy herbal teas all taste great! Don't leave the tea to steep in the milk more than a couple minutes after removing it from the heat. It is easy for floral teas like lavender to get bitter if it sits too long. BBQ Cauliflower Bites
THE BIG GAME IS ALMOST HERE! And maybe like me you're like 'Uhhh cool.' But even if that's the case, we're both here because we like to eat delicious vegan food, which just so happens to be the only reason I tune into the Super Bowl - okay endless snacks AND the commercials. Whatever. The point here is that this gal LOVES snacking, and these BBQ Cauli Bites are the BEST snack! Spicy, tangy, sweet - as messy and delicious as the real thing, but without the meat or weird ingredients. These flavor-packed, guilt-free munchies will make you seem like the best cook at the party! Plus, cauliflower takes up way less room in your stomach than chicken would, aka MORE BEER.
Even if you're not into watching football this Sunday, you should still make these. 'Cause they are really fricken delicious. I made a pretty big batch last weekend and Alex and I finished it together, no problem. They don't need any dipping sauce since they're slathered in any BBQ sauce, but if you're into ranch dip, it might be a delicious addition. We also have a great recipe for crunchy coated cauliflower nuggets if that's more your style. Oh and this sriracha buffalo hummus? PERFECT with all that beer. Let's eat!
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk 1 cup all-purpose OR whole wheat flour 2 teaspoons garlic powder 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 large head (about 6 cups) of cauliflower, cut into florets 1 1/2 cups BBQ Sauce DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 450º. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the unsweetened almond milk, flour, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Dip the cauliflower florets into the mixture, coating evenly. Tap off any excess batter and place the florets onto the baking sheet. Bake for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. While the cauliflower bites cook, heat the BBQ sauce in a small saucepan, stirring occasionally, until heated through. When the cauliflower bites have cooked, pull them from the oven and using tongs, carefully dip each floret completely into the bbq sauce mixture and place it back onto the baking sheet. Continue this until all the florets have been dipped. Bake for 25-30 more minutes, again flipping about halfway through. When they’re finished, serve immediately! NOTES Leftovers don't reheat very well. These are best eaten fresh! 
Party-Sized Jackfruit Nachos!
Whether you're into football or not, you probably know that the Super Bowl is this weekend. I've never been much of a football fan myself, but I'm always down for a party centered around eating! We're going to have some friends over the day before for a little get together and these nachos will absolutely be making an appearance. They're deceptively simple to make, big enough to share with a crowd, and so good your guests might not even believe you made them yourself! We start by smothering toasted tortilla chips with our spicy seasoned jackfruit, then pour on our homemade queso cheese and all the toppings you can imagine - plus we added guac!
This is a dish you won't want to share - it is THAT good! Which is also why we supersized it, so maybe it'd make it juuuuust a little easier to share? No matter what team you're rooting for, you'll be glad you made these nachos to munch on...and so will your guests!
INGREDIENTS
1 large bag of tortilla chips 1- 15 ounce can black beans, drained 2- 20 ounce cans of jackfruit (in brine), prepared and cooked to our Jack Asada recipe instructions 1-2 cups homemade queso cheese (or sub whatever dairy-free cheese you prefer), warmed 1/2 cup red onion, chopped small 1/2 cup black olives, sliced 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped the BEST guacamole, for serving limes, for garnish DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or aluminum foil). Spread the tortilla chips evenly over the baking sheet and scatter the drained black beans over the top. Layer the seasoned, cooked jackfruit evenly over the top, then place the baking sheet in the oven for 10 minutes heat the chips, beans and jackfruit together. When finished, pull the baking sheet from the oven and immediately top with the queso cheese, chopped red onion, black olives, cilantro and guacamole. Serve immediately! NOTES Save time by preparing the jackfruit and queso a day ahead, then just reheat as necessary! If you use a different cheese (daiya, for example) we would recommend adding the cheese layer BEFORE baking so it melts while in the oven. Add whatever other toppings you like! Some suggestions? Cabbage, salsa, hot sauce, green onions, jalapeños, tomatoes!
Potato Leek Gratin
If you've hung around here for awhile you probably know that I'm a big potato eater, having grown up in the great state of Maine. I like 'em cooked every which way and eat them way more than I probably should. But screw balance, because potatoes are the star of this dish and they are so, soooo worth it here. We started by slicing up our potatoes really thin, adding leeks cooked in garlic and rosemary, and covering the whole thing in a super cheezy sauce and homemade parmesan. It gets nice and bubbly when it cooks up and packs a ton of flavor. Its an easy dish to whip up and would make a great main or side dish at any meal. I used to love when my Mom would make gratin with dinner, so I'm happy I finally recreated the dish - but with a lot more flavor and a LOT less fat and salt than normal. It's cheezy, oozy-gooey, full of rich, savory flavor and something you're gonna wanna shovel into your mouth as soon as you pull it out of the oven - even Grandma will be impressed. Let's eat!
Looking for more with potatoes? Try our super popular Potato Leek Soup, Celeriac Mashed Potatoes, or Classic Backyard Potato Salad!
INGREDIENTS
2 lbs. gold potatoes, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons coconut oil 4 large leeks, trimmed and thinly sliced 4 cloves garlic, minced 3 sprigs fresh rosemary 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1 cup unsweetened almond milk 1 - 14 oz. can full-fat coconut milk 1/2 cup nutritional yeast 3 tablespoons corn starch 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1/4 cup homemade parmesan cheeze, to garnish the top DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Thinly slice potatoes and layer them into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Heat the coconut oil in a large cast iron pan over medium heat. When melted, sauté the leeks, garlic, and fresh rosemary over medium heat. Season with the salt and pepper and cook until softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes. [Take care NOT to burn the garlic + leeks- they don't taste good.] Remove the pan from heat, toss the rosemary stems, and pour the garlic leek mixture over the sliced potatoes in the casserole dish. In the same pan you used to cook the leeks and garlic, whisk together the almond + coconut milks, nutritional yeast, corn starch, fresh chopped rosemary, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens - about 5 minutes. Pour this mixture over the leek and potatoes in the casserole dish and use a spoon to gently smooth it over the top, letting it fill the crevices between the veggies. Sprinkle parmesan cheeze over the top and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the mixture is golden and bubbling. Serve + enjoy! NOTES Serves 8. Leftovers save well in an airtight container in the fridge up to a week.
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