Saturday, February 7, 2015

Vegan Chocolate Pudding

There's no introduction needed. This is simply a tasty Vegan Chocolate Pudding.

2 Ripe Avocados
2 TBS Vegetable Oil
1/3 C Honey
3 Fresh Dates, finely chopped.
1/2 C Dark Cocoa Powder
2 tsp Vanilla
1 C Almond Milk, divided

In a Food Processor or Blender:
Oil
Dates
Honey
Vanilla
1/2 C  of the Almond Milk
Avocados
Cocoa Powder
Blend until creamy smooth, about 2 - 3 minutes.

Add:
Additional Almond Milk until desired thickness is achieved. Blend just to incorporate.
It will continue to thick as it chills.

Spoon into individual serving bowls, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!





Monday, February 2, 2015

Vegan Enchilada Casserole

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 375  degrees.
1 - 9" X 13" Casserole Dish

2 TBS Vegetable Oil
2 C Diced Vidalia Onions
1 Red Pepper, diced
1 TBS minced Garlic
1/4 C prepared Enchilada Sauce
1 tsp dried Oregano
1 tsp dried Basil
2 tsp Chili Powder
1 - 15oz. can of diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles
1 - 15oz. can of Black Beans, drained
1 Zucchini, diced
1 - 15oz. can of Corn, drained
5 C  finely chopped Baby Spinach
6 - 6" Corn Tortillas

Diced Avocado and Chopped Green Onion for garnish

In a large skillet:
Heat the Oil on medium high heat.

Add:
Onion
Bell Pepper
Enchilada Sauce
Saute for 5 minutes.
Stir.
Reduce heat to medium low.

Add:
Garlic
Oregano
Basil
Chili Powder
Saute for an additional 2 - 3 minutes.

Add:
Tomatoes
Beans
Zucchini
Corn
Spinach
Stir well.

Cut 4 of the Tortillas into 1" squares and add to the Skillet.
Cover and cook 5 minutes.
Stir once during cooking.
Remove from heat and set aside.

Remove 1 C of the mixture and place it on a Food Processor or Blender and blend until smooth.
Return the liquid to the Skillet and mix well.
Pour into the casserole dish.

Cut the remaining 2 Tortillas into 1" squares.
Sprinkle evenly over the top.
Bake for 15 - 20 minutes.
Remove and serve hot.
Serve garnished with diced Avocado and Chopped Green Onion.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!



Jam Bars

I think these might be considered an iconic All American Bar. I know that my family has enjoyed these for generations. However, I also know that there are new bakers seeking traditional recipes that they can start making and hand down the recipes to their family members.
This is one of those recipes!

Jam Bars:

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
1 - 9" X 13" baking dish

12 TBS (1 1/2 sticks) Butter, room temperature
1/2 C Granulated Sugar
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1 3/4 C Flour
1/4 tsp Salt
1 1/2 C Apricot or Raspberry Jam (buy the best you can afford)
2 C Sweetened Flaked Coconut
7 oz Sweetened Condensed Milk (1/2 of a 14oz. can)

In a large mixing bowl with an electric hand mixer until creamy:
Butter
Sugar

Add:
Vanilla
Flour
Salt
Beat just until combined and form a smooth dough.
Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Press the dough evenly into the pan.
Prick it with a fork.
Bake for 20 minutes.

Spread the Jam evenly over the entire Crust.
Sprinkle evenly with Coconut.
Drizzle evenly with Sweetened Condensed Milk.
Bake for an additional 30 minutes.

Remove to a rack to cool completely.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Cut into squares to serve.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Pillsbury's Grilled Taco Nachos

I won a calendar from Pillsbury, I can't remember what it was for, but it had this recipe in it.
As a Texan, I've often mentioned that we love Tex- Mex food and this recipe fits that category.
This version is also Vegetarian and I love that. No beef, no sausage, no meat! Here's my adapted recipe.

NOTE:
All of these ingredients are really a suggestion. You can add additional ingredients, omit some and even change the amounts, more or less based on personal preference.

Here's what you'll need:
A Barbecue Grill on Medium Heat
1 - 12" X 18" disposable foil pan sprayed with a vegetable cooking spray.

About 5 cups of your favorite Tortilla Chips. We all have our favorites in Texas.
1 (15oz.) can of Black Beans, drained, rinsed and mashed.
1 (4.5oz) can of Diced Green Chiles, drained.
2 tsp of Taco Seasoning Mix from a 1oz package of Old El Paso.
2 ripe Plum Tomatoes, diced.
4 Green Onions, sliced.
2 C shredded Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack Cheese.


Spread the Tortilla Chips in the pan.

In a mixing bowl:
Beans
Chiles
Taco Seasoning
Mix well.
Distribute evenly over the Taco Chips.
Sprinkle the top with the Tomatoes and Onions.
Add the Cheese on the top.
Cover with foil.

Place it on the grill with the top closed.
Grill for 8 - 10 minutes. The cheese should be completely melted.

Remove and transfer to a large serving platter or serve directly from the pan.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!


Baked Vegetarian Lasagna Rolls

This is a take on the traditional Lasagna. This one is vegetarian and baked in rolls.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2 - 9" X 13" baking dishes sprayed with a vegetable cooking spray or brushed  well with vegetable oil.

The Rolls:
2 TBS Vegetable Oil
1 package of Gimme Lean Fresh Ground Sausage.
1 package of Yves Meatless Ground.
16 uncooked Lasagne Noodles
1/2 C diced Onion
3 C of  Marinara Pasta Sauce, divided. (any purchased vegetarian sauce)
2- (15 oz) containers of Ricotta Cheese
1 (9 oz) box of Frozen Spinach, thawed and squeezed dry.
2 tsp dried Italian Seasoning
1 Large Egg

The Topping:
1 1/2 C Tomato Pasta Sauce, set aside
2 C shredded Mozzarella Cheese, set aside.

Cook Noodles according to package directions.
Drain and set aside laid out in a single layer.

Meatless Ground Mixture
In a large skillet on medium heat:
Sausage
Meatless Ground
Onion
Cook until browned, stirring often.
Add:
1 1/2 C Marinara Pasta Sauce
Reduce heat to low, cook uncovered for 10 minutes, stir occasionally.
Remove from heat and set aside.

Ricotta Cheese Mixture
In a mixing bowl:
Ricotta Cheese
Spinach
Italian Seasoning
Egg
Mix well with a blending fork.

Begin making the Rolls:
Lay each noodle onto a flat surface.
Evenly spread 3 TBS of the Ricotta Mixture on each Noodle, leaving 1" at one end.
Evenly spread 1/4 C of the Meatless Ground Mixture over the Ricotta.
Roll the noodles as tight as you can toward the unfilled inch at the end.

Place the rolls, seam side down, (side by side) into each of  the  9" X 13" casserole dishes. There will be 2 rows of 4 in the dish.

Pour the remaining 1 1/2 C of Marinara Pasta Sauce over the tops of the rolls.
Cover with foil.
Bake 30 - 40 minutes.

Sprinkle the tops with Cheese and continue to bake uncovered for an additional 3 - 5 minutes.
Serve hot.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!






Spinach Dip Bites from Chocolate Chocolate and More


This must be part of the "more" in this blog's title because this savory recipe looks incredible.
I simply re posted the link to the recipe so I could give it credit. I often adapt and change a recipe to make it my own, but this one deserves full credit as an original recipe. I look forward to making this.

http://chocolatechocolateandmore.com/…/12/spinach-dip-bites/

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Cheesy Broccoli Casserole

I'm trying to post more savory and entree recipes. I decided to start with this casserole.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
1 - large saucepan
1 - 3 quart casserole dish, sprayed with a vegetable cooking spray

1 can of French Fried Onions, you know the ones that we all use for that iconic All American Green Bean Casserole, divided
2- 24 oz. bags of Green Giant frozen Broccoli and Three Cheese Sauce
3 oz. Cream Cheese, cubed
1/2 C diced Red Bell Pepper.
1/2 tsp Tabasco Sauce

Reserve 1 C of the Onions and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl:
Remaining Onions
Broccoli
Cream Cheese
Bell Pepper
Tabasco
Stir to combine.
Pour into the saucepan.
Cover and cook on medium low heat for 20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes.
Check to make sure the cheese from the broccoli has melted.

Transfer to the casserole.
Bake  uncovered for 25 minutes.
Sprinkle with the remaining Onions and return to bake uncovered for 5 minutes.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!