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Rosewater Parfaits

May 11, 2013 · by · 23 Comments

Rosewater Parfait from The Great Vegan Bean Book

I’m so excited to participate in Virtual Vegan Potluck! This is my first one, but it certainly won’t be my last. The photo above was taken by Renee Comet who took all the photos for The Great Vegan Bean Book and she did an amazing job!

The pudding in these parfaits is thick and gets its cheesecake-like flavor from the vegan yogurt. The magic bean ingredient? Well, that would be the cooked red lentils. I promise you no one will know they are in this decadent dessert. I do use silken tofu but you could make it with all yogurt instead, it just won’t be as thick.

Sandwiched in between layers of vanilla cookie crumbs, it’s something all your dinner guests will want seconds of. It’s a great mini dessert to serve in shot glasses at your next party.

Vanilla Rosewater Parfaits from The Great Vegan Bean Book

gluten-free option*, oil-free

  • 1 cup  (262 g) vanilla yogurt
  • 1 cup ( 192 g) cooked red lentils
  • 1 container (12.3 ounces/349g) silken tofu
  • 1 tablespoon rosewater
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons agave nectar (more if using plain yogurt)
  • 3 cups (240 g) vanilla cookie crumbs (*use gluten-free cookies to make gluten-free or leave them out and just have pudding)

Add everything except for the cookie crumbs to a food process and purée for about 8 minutes. Stop every few minutes and scrape down the side of the bowl to make sure it all gets smooth.

In 8 small (10 ounce) custard cups (or in shot glasses to make minis) layer the crumbs on the bottom, add a layer of the tofu mixture, more crumbs, another layer of tofu and end by completely cover the top with the rest of the cookie crumbs.

The mixture will thicken up when you refrigerate the parfaits, so put them in the fridge at least 2 hours before serving but will keep covered for a few days.

Yield: 8 servings
Per serving: 124.1 calories; 3.1 g total fat; .0 g saturated fat; 6.0 g protein; 17.8 g carbohydrate; 2.3 g dietary fiber; 0 mg cholesterol.
Total Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Cooking Time: 0 minutes

Serving Suggestions & Variations: Use different extract flavors, add cocoa powder or even liquors to make an unlimited array of versions. Graham crackers and chocolate cookies make great crumb layers as well.

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My third book, Vegan Slow Cooking for Two, comes out this September and  is available for pre-order on Amazon today for only $10.31. If you pre-order now you will get the lowest price between now and when the book releases!


Filed Under: Dessert, Gluten-free, No Added Oil, Non-Slow Cooker Recipe, Not Slow Cooker, The Great Vegan Bean Book, Vegan, Virtual Vegan Potluck · Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Mexican Quinoa with Black Beans

April 24, 2013 · by · Leave a Comment

mexiquinoaclose

Here’s another recipe from The Great Vegan Bean Book that comes out June 1. This recipe may look familiar because it started out on this blog. It’s been slightly tweaked, a stove-top cooking method has been added in addition to the original slow cooker one and there’s nutritional information!

This Book is not an all slow cooker book like The Vegan Slow Cooker, but I added in some slow cooker variations whenever there was space. A few got cut in editing, but I’m planning to adding them here on the blog so you’ll be able to slow cook more of the recipes. I know you guys love slow cookers as much as I do!

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Super Simple Mexican Quinoa with Black Beans

soy-free, gluten-free, oil-free

1 1/2 cup (225 g) bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups (375 ml) water
1 1/2 cups diced tomatoes (or a 14.5 ounce can – do not drain)
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans or 1 can (15 oz/420 g), rinsed and drained
1 cube vegetable bouillon
1 to 2 teaspoons chili powder, to taste
1/2 teaspoon cumin
3/4 cup (127.5 g) quinoa, rinsed well
salt and pepper to taste, if needed

Stove-top Instructions:
Add all ingredients except for the salt and pepper into a medium sauce pot with a lid. Bring to boil then turn heat to low and cook for 15 minutes or until the quinoa is done.
Season with salt and pepper. Taste and add more chili powder or cumin if needed. (Remember as your spices age the flavor is not as strong.)

Slow Cooker Instructions:
Increase the amount of water to 2 1/2 cups.
The night before: Prepare the veggies and rinse the beans if you are using canned and keep in fridge overnight.

In the morning: Add everything listed in the ingredient list above the quinoa to an oiled slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 to 10 hours. (You will add quinoa later.)
1 to 2 hours before serving: Turn the slow cooker to high and add in the quinoa. Cook until you see the quinoa’s little white tails. That’s the signal that they’re ready to eat. Taste and add salt, more cumin, extra chili powder – what ever you need to do to make this taste the way you like it!

Yield: 4 servings
Per 1 ½ cup serving: 254.3 calories; 2.6 g total fat; .1 g saturated fat; 11.6 g protein; 46.5 g carbohydrate; 9.3 g dietary fiber; 0 mg cholesterol.
Total Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Cooking Time: 20 minutes

 

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Be sure to let me know if you have any questions about  The Great Vegan Bean Book or Vegan Slow Cooking for Two or Just You which comes out this September and uses all 1 1/2 to 2 quart slow cookers in all the recipes.

If you pre-order now you will get the lowest price between now and when the book releases!

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Filed Under: Gluten-free, Mexican, Slow cooker, Soy-free, Stews, The Great Vegan Bean Book, Vegan · Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Guest Post by Jill Nussinow – The Veggie (and Pressure Cooker) Queen

October 16, 2012 · by · 3 Comments

I met Jill Nussinow this year when I was working on my second book, The Great Vegan Bean Book. I was working on instructions on various ways to cook dry beans. I had methods for the slow cooker, stove top, and even in the oven, but something was still lacking – pressure cooking.

I emailed Jill and she was kind enough to help me out and wrote a how to on pressure cooking beans. Since she did such an amazing job, I asked her if she would share some of her pressure cooking information and gear it to you.

The Vegan Pressure Cooker for Slow Cooker Users – Is it Time to Get PC?

By Jill Nussinow, MS, RD, The Veggie Queen™

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Guest Post · Tagged: , , , , ,

Slow Cooker Indian Spiced Chickpea Quinoa Stew

January 31, 2012 · by · 22 Comments

As promised, here is the ridiculously easy and tasty stew I mentioned over the weekend. I seem to be on a streak of ugly but packed-full of flavor recipes this month.

I guess the veggies that are available in January aren’t quite as flashy as some of the summer ones. That, and well, stews aren’t always pretty – but you can’t beat a one dish meal for an easy dinner.

In my its next incarnation I think I’ll add a handful or two of chopped greens to shake things up a bit.

You can really add any veggies you have on hand too. I’m all about options and using what you have on hand. Yellow lentils instead of red, potato in place of turnip and even carrot would all work just as good as the listed ingredients.

Slow Cooker Indian Spiced Chickpea Quinoa Stew
gluten-free, soy-free

serves 4 to 6

  • 4 to 5 cups water
  • 1 can diced tomatoes (or 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen)
  • 1 can chickpeas, rinsed (or 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen)
  • 1/2 cup red lentils
  • 1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed
  • 1 cup peeled turnip, chopped
  • 1 cup sweet potato, chopped
  • 1/2 cup celery, chopped (about 1 stalk)
  • 1 tablespoon not-chicken bouillon
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 2 teaspoons garam masala
  • salt, to taste

The night before: Chop veggies and store in the fridge.

In the morning: Put everything in the slow cooker and cook on low 6 to 9 hours. Taste, re-season if needed (you may not even need the salt if your bouillon is salty.)

This is a good one to make if you are going to be away from the house a little longer than usual. If your slow cooker runs hot add a little extra water if it will be cooking longer than 9 hours.

Filed Under: Beyond Easy, Cooking Time 6 hours, Cooking Time 8 hours, crockpot, Dark Days, Fall, Gluten-free, Overnight (8+ hours), Slow cooker, Stews, Vegan, Vegetarian, Winter · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Slow Cooker Spicy Southern Chickpeas and Grits

January 20, 2012 · by · 7 Comments

For those of you not familiar with Southern food this is my (vegan) version of Shrimp and Grits. Traditionally it’s base is a spicy tomato based sauce with bell peppers. I’ve used chickpeas because they don’t break down as much as pinto beans or the like.

Of course there’s bacon in the original version, and doubly of course I have liquid smoke in my version. Big shock, right?

The spiciness often comes from Tabasco, but I like to add chipotle for its smoky notes as well as its heat. You can use either or both depending on your favorite taste.

I serve this over a big portion of grits. It’s a very filling dish and perfect for cold, winter nights. Feel free to add a heaping serving of veggies on the side to make it a well-rounded meal.

Originally I used Muir Glen diced tomatoes with chipotles already added in. Since then, it looks like they have been discontinued. But if you have a can or two of them in your pantry this is a great way to use them up.

Make sure to check out the Wellness Weekend over at Diet, Dessert and Dogs. This recipe is linked there and many more.

Slow Cooker Spicy Southern Chickpeas and Grits
soy-free, gluten-free (make sure the grits are labeled gluten-free!)
Makes 3 to 4 servings (when served over a pile of grits)

**This recipe uses a smaller slow cooker 1 1/2 to 2 quarts – you can double the recipe and use a 3 1/2 to 4 quart slow cooker

  • 1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped small
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (can use 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder instead)
  • 1 1/2 cup cooked chickpeas (or 1 can rinsed)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 1/2 cups diced tomatoes (or 1 can Muir Glen diced tomatoes)
  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chipolte powder, to taste
  • A few dashes liquid smoke or smoked salt, to taste (Start small if you’re not a fan of smoky foods or leave it out altogether.)
  • Tabasco or other hot sauce, optional – use instead of chipolte powder or in addition to depending on your taste for heat
  • salt and pepper, to taste

The night before: Chop bell pepper, minced garlic and store in fridge.

In the morning: Add all ingredients, except for the salt and pepper, to the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 9 hours.

Before serving: Taste, add salt and pepper, then re-season to your liking. You may need to add more liquid smoke or chipotle.

Serve over slow cooker grits – recipe below:

I make a double batch of grits in a larger slow cooker. The first time I made this I had more beans than grits and that didn’t work as well. Also this way you can add in a few people if someone happens to drop by around dinner time.

Slow Cooker Grits

Use a 3 1/2 to 4 quart slow cooker for the grits.

  • 1 cup grits, yellow or white (Bob’s Red Mill grits are labeled gluten-free)
  • 2 cup unsweetened So Delicious Coconut Milk (or other unsweetened non-dairy milk)
  • 2 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon vegan chick’n bouillon
  • salt and pepper to taste
In the morning: Add all the ingredients to an oiled slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

Filed Under: Beyond Easy, Cooking Time 8 hours, crockpot, Gluten-free, Main Course, Overnight (8+ hours), Slow cooker, Soy-free, Stews, Vegan, Vegetarian · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Butternut Squash Frijoles and a Goodie Bag Giveaway!

November 21, 2011 · by ·

I have some housekeeping to get done before the end of the year. What’s weird is that it’s good for all you readers! I am backed up on reviews and giveaways so I will be posting more the next month and will have giveaways all the way up through the holidays.

Today’s giveaway is one of my goodie bags from my Going Vegan class at The Creative Connection earlier this year. There are vegan samples and tons of coupons. Some of the coupons expire 12/31 but not before you use them to stretch your holiday food budget!

To enter the giveaway leave a comment below telling me your favorite way to use leftover veggies.

You can get an additional entry by signing up for a free account at Key Ingredient and adding me as a favorite or friend. (The link will take you to my profile.) Then come back here and leave a second comment.

There may be more than one winner and I’ll announce them by Wednesday. So leave a comment and spread the word to all your friends!

Butternut Squash Frijoles
Makes about 6 servings
soy-free, gluten-free

This recipe uses a 1½ to 2 quart slow cooker

  • 1 cup dried beans (anasazi, pinto, et.)
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 cup butternut squash purée
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 can (14.5 oz/411g) diced tomatoes with chipotle (or plain with ½ teaspoon powdered chipotle)
  • 1 teaspoon marjoram
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
  • juice of ½ lime
  • salt to taste
  • ground hot pepper, optional to taste

The night before: Combine the dried beans and water in the slow cooker and cook on low overnight.

In the morning: Add the butternut squash, garlic, tomatoes, marjoram, and chili powder.

Before serving: Taste and adjust seasonings. Add salt, hot pepper, and lime juice.

You can also make a quick mexi-pizza if you spread the frijoles on a tortilla thinly and top with some vegan chorizo and a little Daiya vegan cheese. Plus it cooks in minutes!

You probably have some Winter squash on your t-day menu. If you make an extra cup and purée it, you are ready to make these beans.

If you don’t have time to make the beans now, go ahead and freeze the extra squash in 1 cup portions so it will be ready to go when you want to make them.

You can use pumpkin, acorn, or kuri in place of the butternut. But think about doing something different and use butternut where you usually use pumpkin or sweet potato. After all, Winter squash need some love around the holidays too.

Filed Under: Beyond Easy, Cooking Time 8 hours, crockpot, Giveaway, Gluten-free, Main Course, Mexican, Overnight (8+ hours), Side Dish, Slow cooker, Soy-free, Vegan, Vegetarian · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Happy Vegan Halloween! (And Slow Cooker Black-eyed Peas)

October 31, 2011 · by · 2 Comments

Saturday we had our annual Gothic dinner party and I have to say it was our best one yet! Everyone brought super yummy treats that they made themselves, and of course Cheryl transformed the house into an amazingly spooky haunted house.

I took today off work, but I’m trying to decide if I should be trying to put the house in order or get a head start on some recipe development and writing. Maybe I’ll take the dog for a walk and try to decide.

My vegan gluten-free main course was grit cake ghosts over slimy eyes, or black-eyed peas.

Slow Cooker Black-eyed Peas
soy-free, gluten-free
serves 8 to 10

This uses a 4 quart slow cooker. If yours is larger you  may need to add extra water.

  • 1 pound dry black-eyed peas
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 6 cups of water, or enough to cover the beans and about 1 inch above
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, to taste
  • a few drops liquid smoke
  • hot pepper powder (chipotle etc.), to taste
  • smoked salt and pepper, taste
  • jalapeño salt, optional – to taste
  • Tabasco, on the side for serving
In the morning: Add everything except salt and pepper to your slow cooker. Cook on low 7 to 9 hours.
Before serving: Taste and adjust seasonings if needed and add salt and pepper.
If you can find some jalapeño salt it really adds a special touch to this dish. I dusted it on top of my grit ghosts.

Filed Under: Cooking Time 8 hours, crockpot, Fall, Halloween, Vegan, Vegetarian · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Vegan Red Beans and Rice for 2

October 27, 2011 · by · 14 Comments

You’ve probably noticed that I’m trying to come up with more savory recipes for the 1 1/2 to 2 quart slow cookers. I live in a two person household with a slew of wonderful (and demanding) companion animals.

I know I’m not the only one without a large family. By making a smaller amount for dinner, it lets me try something new every night. If you have a larger family, or prefer not to cook everyday, feel free to double the recipe and use a 4 quart slow cooker.

Once again, this recipe starts off with dried beans. You can use canned or pre-cooked ones, just put the ingredients together in the morning instead of the night before and adjust the water accordingly.

Vegan Red Beans and Rice for 2
soy-free, gluten-free
Makes 2 to 3 servings

**This recipe uses a smaller slow cooker 1 1/2 to 2 quarts – you can double the recipe and use a 3 1/2 to 4 quart slow cooker

  • 1 cup dry red beans
  • 3 cups water
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon salt-free Cajun seasoning
  • A few drops liquid smoke or smoked salt
  • Tabasco, optional (to taste or serve on the side)
  • salt, to taste
  • cooked rice for serving
  • cooked vegan sausage links or grilled tofu, optional for serving (**will reverse the soy-free or gluten-free label!)

The night before: In your slow cooker add the dried beans, water, garlic, and bay leaves. Cook on low overnight. (If your 1 1/2 quart slow cooker does not have a low/high setting then it should run on low.)

In the morning: Add the Cajun seasoning, liquid smoke, and Tabasco if using and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water depending on how long you will be gone for the day or if they just look to dry to cook all day. You can cook these a very long time if you just add extra water, so they are good for days you know you are coming home late.

Before serving: Taste and adjust seasonings and add hot sauce, and add salt if needed.

Serve over brown rice with vegan sausage or grilled tofu if desired. A side salad helps balance out the meal.

Filed Under: Beyond Easy, Cooking Time 8 hours, crockpot, Gluten-free, Main Course, Mexican, Overnight (8+ hours), Side Dish, Slow cooker, Soy-free, Vegan, Vegetarian · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Vegan Sin-cinnati Chili for Your Halloween Dinner

October 25, 2011 · by · 7 Comments

Since I taunted you with Halloween yesterday I thought I’d give you something to make for your Halloween dinner party.

Cincinnati chili is similar to a regular meaty chili except it has unusual spices that you see more in pumpkin pie than an all-American stew. Traditionally it’s a meat chili that has kidney beans as an optional topping as well as shredded cheese and onions. Then oddly enough it’s served over pasta.

This one uses vegan ground and the lentils for the meaty texture. The unusual spices blend in more than you expect, but there are Cincinnati chili lovers and haters. Because of the extra spices the ingredient list may look intimidating, but most things on the list are a quick measure and you’re done!

This looks especially spooky over spinach pasta, but it would work well over black forbidden rice too. You can cut out ghost shapes out a slice of vegan cheese. Black sesame seeds or nigella seeds make great eyes!

Atmosphere is important in a Halloween gathering, but it doesn’t matter if you cut bats out of paper or buy the coolest decorations ever. No matter how much you do, you’ll be glad you put in the time!

Vegan Sin-cinnati Chili
Makes 2 to 3 cups (3 large servings or 4 small ones)

**This recipe uses a smaller slow cooker 1 1/2 to 2 quarts – you can double the recipe and use a 3 1/2 to 4 quart slow cooker

  • 3/4 cup dry black beluga lentils (you can sub other lentils, the chili just won’t be as dark)
  • 1 1/2 cup water
  • 1 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup Ground Beefless (use Trader Joe’s, frozen crumbles, or cook 1/2 cup Gimme Lean)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground hot pepper, like chipotle
  • 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cocoa
  • pinch allspice
  • pinch ground hot pepper of choice, optional and to taste
  • dash of freshly ground nutmeg
  • salt, to taste
  • shredded vegan cheese, for topping
  • chopped onions, for topping
  • cooked spinach pasta, for topping

In the morning: Add everything except nutmeg, salt and toppings to the slow cooker . Cook 7 – 9 hours on low.

Add nutmeg, taste, and add salt or adjust other seasonings as needed.

Serve over cooked pasta and top with your choice of onions and/or cheese.

Filed Under: Chili, Cooking Time 8 hours, crockpot, Fall, Main Course, Overnight (8+ hours), Pasta, Slow cooker, Stews, Vegan, Vegetarian, Winter · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Vegan ‘Meaty’ Chili You Make From Scratch, but Is as Easy as Opening a Can!

October 24, 2011 · by · 8 Comments

It’s getting close to my favorite holiday, Halloween. This weekend we started decorating the house for our annual Gothic dinner party. We have over 8 big plastic bins chock full of goodies, so it takes days to get everything in place. So far we are about 1/2 way there.

Of course, once the house is decorated then I’ll do the tablescape. (I’ve always wanted to use that word in a sentence!) There are 2 boxes full just for the table. I’ll post pictures next week of the table and our decorations.

I haven’t decided what I’m making for the main course yet, so if anyone has some spooky vegan gluten-free ideas let me know. (Yes, Cara, that is directed at you – possibly as a challenge!)

So, why all this talk of Halloween on a chili post? Well, it is near Halloween… But the real reason is we ate the chili – all of it before I remembered to take a picture of it. I promise to not do it again, but this recipe was too good to not post it because it’s picture-less.

This is a great recipe to get in your slow cooker tonight for tomorrow’s dinner. You could use tvp, crumbled tofu, even tempeh instead of the beefless if you’d like to. It’s yours to play with as you want!

Vegan Ground Beefless and Bean Chili
Makes 2 to 3 cups

**This recipe uses a smaller slow cooker 1 1/2 to 2 quarts – you can double the recipe and use a 3 1/2 to 4 quart slow cooker

  • 1 cup dry black beans
  • 3 cup water
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • A few dashes liquid smoke
  • 1/2 cup Ground Beefless (use Trader Joe’s, frozen crumbles, or cook 1/2 cup Gimme Lean)
  • 1/2 cup diced tomato (Use the ones with chipotle if you can find it)
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • pinch ground hot pepper of choice, optional and to taste
  • salt, to taste (Smoked salt would work great too.)
  • vegan sour cream, for serving, optional
  • baked sweet potato, for serving

The night before: In your slow cooker add the dried beans, water, garlic, and liquid smoke. Cook on low overnight. (If your 1 1/2 quart slow cooker does not have a low/high setting then it should run on low.)

In the morning: Add everything else to the slow cooker (except for salt). Cook 8 – 9 hours on low.

Before serving: Taste, add salt if needed,  and adjust seasonings and add hot sauce, salt, or other add-ins now.

Serve over a baked sweet potato and top with optional sour cream if you’re in the mood for it. You can cook them an additional slow cooker while you are gone all day. This also works great over rice, quinoa, or with Daiya mixed in for a dip-for-dinner meal with some baked blue corn tortilla chips. The dip idea would work great at your Halloween party.

Filed Under: Beyond Easy, Chili, Cooking Time 8 hours, crockpot, Gluten-free, Main Course, Mexican, Overnight (8+ hours), Slow cooker, Soy-free, Stews, Vegan, Vegetarian, Winter · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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