Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies (Vegan)

Decided to make up a batch of cookies, just because. I was craving some chocolate chip cookies but decided to make some chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, it called for less fat (the chocolate chip recipe that I use calls for 1 cup butter/margarine and this recipe uses 1/2 cup) and somehow eating an oatmeal cookie seems healthier LOL ;) I made my cookies with this recipe, however I used vegetable shortening instead of the margarine/butter and in place of the egg 1 tbsp. ground flax seed mixed with 3 tbsp. water. These are so delicious, soft, cinnamon-y and chocolate-y. I love making cookies because they are so easy to make and were perfect on a wintry night. Chris and I loved these and it made about 18 cookies total, it says it makes 2 dozen but I tend to make larger cookies. The website has a lot of the "in a jar" recipes that would be perfect for gift giving and they are easily veganized. I used walnuts, what I happened to have on hand. I love pecans but I just used the last of them up in the whole wheat pancakes Chris and I had for breakfast. Feel free to use your favorite nuts in this recipe if you make it, and I always use vegetable shortening in cookies because it tends to have the best baked result, again use butter or margarine if that is what you prefer.

Granola three ways

I saw this recipe from Not Derby Pie for Tahini flavored granola and I knew that I wanted to try it out imediately. I have been on a granola kick lately. Chris and I like to eat it right from the container as snacks, as cereal with milk and I love mixing it with vanilla yogurt. MMM, granola. 

I also decided to make some Granola Muffins, from
this recipe . I replaced the egg with "flax seed goop" (1 tbsp. ground flax seeds blended with 3 tbsp. water) and these were so amazing that I have made them twice now ;) I also threw in about 1 tsp. vanilla. I also used the same recipe to make the pancakes, although I used 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder instead of soda. I recommend making these (pancakes or muffins) with the same measurement of baking powder instead of soda, made with the soda the muffins have a slightly bitter aftertaste. In the future I will use less sugar, maybe 1/4 cup for the pancakes. I used homemade Ener-G and I am very pleased with the results in these muffins (in photo) with it. Definitely a money saver, Ener-G can be costly and the ingredients can be purchased for very cheap at an Asian Grocer.

Ener-G Type Egg Replacer 

Chef Deborah Wolfe of Vegsource

1 cup potato starch
3/4 cup tapioca flour
2 tsp. baking powder

Mix all well.
Store in airtight container.

To use:
1 & 1/2 tsp powder + 2 Tbs water = 1 egg.
1 & 1/2 tsp powder + 1 Tbs water = 1 egg yolk.

When measuring, press powder firmly into measuring
spoon.

Lentil Loaf

After seeing a picture of this loaf that Danaskully64 of Veggieboards made, I knew I had to try it out. I made mine from  this recipe (this is the same one she posted) and I decided to make some mushroom gravy to go with it from this recipe and I added some one onion, chopped and sauteed in oil (along with the 'shrooms) to my gravy. I also made Roasted Rosemary Potatoes and Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

The loaf is relatively easy to get out of the pan. I forgot to add basil to mine, and as recommended by Tofu and Sprouts, I cooked my lentils in vegetable broth. I think it is a good, inexpensive recipe that is very easy to make, even during the week. Christopher loved this loaf. I want to make it again with BBQ sauce instead of the tomato sauce, as recommended by Danaskully64 and a lot of the reviewers. I did saute my onion and added a shredded carrot, sauteed to the mix. Definitely try out the mushroom gravy, I think it went well with the Lentil Loaf, and it would be good also on mashed potatoes.


Here is a close up of the Lentil Loaf and Mushroom-Onion Gravy

Here is the plated food

 

Here is the loaf

Flax Seed Sandwich Bread

I decided to make this for sandwiches instead of getting some sandwich bread from the grocery store. I love PB and J's and I wanted a good, sturdy yet soft bread that I could cut thin and would stay soft. I based this recipe off of  this one , just subbing the tomato sauce for applesauce, and omitting the herbs. I added some milled flax seed in place of some of the flour. You can find this in the baking aisle near the wheat gluten flour, or if you cannot find it and you have whole flax seeds you can grind your own in a spice/coffee grinder. Make sure that you have a separate grinder for spices and coffee. Keep the box of ground flax seed in the fridge once opened so it doesn't go rancid. Ground flax seed plus water blended in the blender can be used as an egg replacement.

  Flax Seed Sandwich Bread 
   Ingredients:

• 1 cup applesauce
  
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 2 tablespoons powdered milk
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 tablespoon corn syrup OR sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup ground flax seed (if you cannot find this, you can just use another 1/2 cup AP flour)
  
• 1 package active dry yeast

Mix the warm water, powdered mix, yeast and sugar OR corn syrup in a large bowl, set aside to proof for about 5 minutes.

Add oil, salt and applesauce, stir to incorporate.

Add flax seed powder and 2 cups flour, stir well to incorporate, and turn onto floured board.

Knead in the last 1/2 cup flour, adding additional flour as necessary.

Knead about 5 minutes, dough should be soft but not sticky. Cover until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.

Punch dough down.

Oil a bread loaf pan, place your dough into it. Cover with a clean tea towel and let rise for about 1 1/2 more hours, or until doubled in bulk.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Place bread in oven, cook 30-45 minutes or until lightly browned on top and bread sounds hollow when tapped.

Cool and enjoy.

Bread rising

 Baked bread, and that is my Tinkerbell Oven Glove ;)

Udon Noodles with Spicy Peanut Ginger Sauce

I was looking online for udon noodle recipes that were spicy and I came upon this recipe , I am making it however without meat and using tofu instead, I also had no bean sprouts so I also left them out, along with the chili oil, which I subbed out with some garlic pepper sauce. I subbed out the almond butter for peanut butter and left out the vinegar. It is spicy, with a hint of ginger. I really enjoyed it. Here is the recipe that I made....

 Udon Noodles with Spicy Peanut Ginger Sauce

• 2 sleeves prepared udon noodles
  
• 1 tbsp. garlic pepper sauce
  
• 4 tbsp. teriyaki sauce
• 1 lime, juiced (one tbsp.)
  
• 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 tsp. sesame seed oil
  
• 2 tsp. dry ginger
• 1 tsp. crushed red pepper
• 1/2 tbsp. oil
• 1 tsp. sesame seed oil
  
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, shredded
• 2 cups Napa cabbage, shredded
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  
• 1 Tbs sesame seeds
  

Combine ingredients from Teriyaki Sauce to crushed red pepper in a small bowl.
Cook 2 sleeves udon in boiling water for 8 minutes, drain and rinse with cold water.
Combine sesame seed oil and vegetable oil.
 If you happen to have some tofu, cut into triangles and cook on medium until browned on both sides.

Saute garlic cloves in oil mixture

Add your carrots and the Napa cabbage, stir fry on medium high until lightly wilted.
Add your noodles.

Mix in sauce and half of the chopped cilantro.
Serve with tofu and garnish with remaining cilantro and sesame seeds.

Cheap-o Night: Homemade Tomato Basil Sauce with Penne and Tomato Basil Bread

Chris loves this bread but I have only made it once for him. The time we had it before we loved it so much we vowed to not make it again, it is that good. We kept nibbling on it all night. As a surprise and because we happen to have the ingredients on hand I made it again. I did not have dried onion flakes so I made mine with onion powder, and I used fresh basil as I did not have dried on hand. To make vegan, use powdered soy milk or go with 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp warm soy milk (leave out the water if you go with this option). I used a whole package of yeast in this recipe and hand kneaded it. That means I let it rise the first time 1 1/2 hours and 1-1 1/2 hours once it is in the bread pan. Bake at 350 degrees F until loaf is golden and sounds hollowed when tapped.

 

I think that I have mentioned this recipe for Tomato Basil Pizza Sauce and I liked it so much I decided to make it again for pasta. I used 16 ounces of tomato sauce instead of the diced tomatoes, also I added oregano and sugar to my recipe. I doubled the recipe to use later in the week for more pasta and pizza ;)

 

Totally cheap and homemade, with fresh ingredients....Italian Night. From scratch and you probably have all of these ingredients laying around your home and it doesn't taste "cheap". Enjoy!

Gorgonzola, Mushroom and Carmelized Onion Pizza

I based the pizza sauce off of this recipe being that I had no canned tomatoes, I used some tomato sauce (16 ounces) instead and I threw in maybe a teaspoon of sugar and about 1/2 tsp. dried oregano.

I used my regular pizza dough that I always use when making a pizza

3 cups all purpose white flour OR 1 cup whole wheat flour and 2 cups AP white flour
1 Pkg. yeast either fast rise or regular
1 cup warm water (110 degrees or warm to touch)
1 tbsp. applesauce OR 1 tbsp. olive oil (I always use the oil, it works just as well with the applesauce though)
1 tsp. sugar OR 1 tbsp. corn syrup OR 1 tbsp. golden syrup
1 tsp. salt

Place water, salt, sweetener of choice and yeast in large bowl. It will proof in about 5 minutes.
Add oil.
Add 2 cups flour and mix.
Add the rest of the flour, mix and turn onto floured board, adding additional flour if necessary.
Knead 5-10 minutes.
Cover with bowl, let rise at least 30 minutes to one hour or until doubled in bulk. It will hold an indention of your thumb if doubled in bulk.
Punch dough down, and roll out in oiled pizza pan.
Cover for about 30 minutes with clean tea towel or you can skip this step however the crust will be very thin.

Cut up 2 medium onions into very thin slices. Saute in a pot over medium heat about 15-20 minutes in about 2 tbsp. oil until fragrant and slightly brown. Set aside.

Place tomato sauce (however much you like) on rolled out pizza that has risen covered, for 30 minutes. Top with 1 pkg. (or 2 cups) shredded mozzarella cheese (I used 2%), your caramelized onions, about 1/4-1/3 cup Gorgonzola cheese, and maybe 4 ounces sliced mushrooms. Bake at 425 degrees F for about 10-15 minutes until cheese is slightly brown and bubbly and bottom crust is golden brown. Enjoy. I think this is the best pizza I have ever had.

Pre-baked Pizza

 Baked Pizza, if you can wait 5-10 minutes it will cut better.