Kale and Mango Salad

Oh my.... Now that I have made this, I will never be the same.  For a kale freak, this is the end all be all! Mangoes are cheap and ripe at the grocery night now, and Im not sure that there is a better way to use them.  The secret here is most definitely the massaging of the kale and cutting the kale into small ribbons! Thanks Aarti Sequeira.

1 bunch of kale, removed from stem and cut into small ribbons
1 lemon, juiced
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp honey
Kosher salt and pepper
3 small, ripe mangoes, peeled and cubed/diced
1/4 cup toasted pepitas (special pumpkin seeds)

First, place your kale cut into small ribbons in a large bowl and drizzle with the juice of half the lemon, half of the olive oil (1/8 cup), and kosher salt.  Massage the kale mixture with your hands for about 2-3 minutes.  This will really break down the fibers of the kale! Add the mango and pepitas to the salad.  In a small bowl, mix together the remainder of the lemon juice, remaining olive oil, honey, and a lot of black pepper.  Toss the dressing with the salad, season, and enjoy! SOO good!!

Kale and Pear Balsamic Salad

Prior to being pregnant I was kale obsessed! Ask everyone... A day would not pass without my dose of kale! Then, when I got pregnant, kale became repulsive! The smell, the taste, the texture...everything! Luckily, I am days away from delivering and have my kale taste back!! And Im craving it once again! Here is one of two most delicious kale salad recipes that I have been fixating over the last few days and loving!!!!! Make this one the day ahead for best results since the vinegar helps to break down the fibrousness of the kale overnight.

1 bunch of kale, removed from the stalk and chopped small
1/4 cup pecan halves, toasted
1 green onion, chopped
1 pear, peeled and sliced
2 TBSP balsamic vinegar
3 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
Salt and Pepper

Toss together the kale, pear, and green onions.  Season with salt and pepper.  Add the mixture of your balsamic and olive oil.  Taste and add pecans!! Personally, I like to have it all "marry" overnight or for a few hours in the fridge to help break down the fibrousness of the kale, but it is up to you!!
*Adapted from Foodnetwork

Halfway Healthy Granola!

Here is a recipe for granola that I feel so good about.  So often, I feel that granola is just packed with sugar...making it NOT the healthy, go-to breakfast everyone makes it out to be! Try this one on for size.  Eat it with vanilla soy milk for something to look forward to waking up to!! The best thing is that you can exchange most any nut or dried fruit that you fancy.... Make it your own and enjoy!

2 cups slivered almonds
1 cup raw cashews
4 cups rolled oats
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup dried blueberries (or golden raisins or whatever you want)
3/4 cups extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup agave nectar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.  Oil or spray a large rimmed baking sheet in preparation for the baking.

In a large bowl, mix together the granola and all the nuts.  Next, combine the oil, salt, cinnamon, and agave and pour over the dry mixture to coat.  Once well combined, spread the granola in a thin layer on your baking sheet and cook for 25 minutes, allowing the smell to consume your entire house.  Take it out of the oven and allow it to cool the entire way...no matter how hard that is!  Once cooled, mix in the dried fruit and store in an airtight container.  NOW you can eat..... MMMMM....

Cold Asian Noodle Salad

Personally, I LOVE any fresh, crisp Vietnamese dish.  SO many of them are chalked full of delicious veggies, healthy, light, and vegan!! I try to make them as often as possible when I have the time to julienne the veggies...which unfortunately is often the key to their perfection. Here is an adaptation from Guy Fieri. Now, I have all these ingredients around my house at all times since I love all things Vietnamese, but you may not.  Also, this uses soba noodles, which I dont even know is Vietnamese.....but you can use whole wheat thin noodles, if you choose!  One more great thing about this dish... You can make it way ahead of time and be ready to go for dinner or any event!

1 package soba noodles (or whole wheat thin spaghetti)
1 tsp sesame oil
2 TBSP rice wine vinegar
3 TBSP soy sauce
1 tsp hot chili oil
1 TBSP hoisin sauce
5 TBSP olive oil
1 carrot, thinly sliced or julienned
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced or julienned
5 green onions, thinly sliced or julienned
1/2 cup thinly sliced napa cabbage (I used romaine lettuce since I had it)
1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced or julienned
1/2 cup baby bok choy, thinly sliced or julienned
3 TBSP minced cilantro leaves
3 TBSP toasted sesame seeds
3 TBSP chopped, unsalted roasted peanuts

First, cook your noodles according to package directions.  If you are using the soba noodles, bring your water to a boil, salt, and cook for 8 minutes.  Once cooked, no matter which noodles you use, make sure and shock them in an ice bath, drain and set aside.

Cut up all your veggies and set aside.  Next, mix together your wet ingredients: sesame oil, soy sauce, chili oil, vinegar, hoisin, and olive oil.  In a large bowl, combine all your sauce, veggies, and noodles and toss well.  Season to taste!

At this point you can refrigerate or serve! Before serving, make sure and top with your toasted sesame seeds and peanuts for the ultimate yumminess!

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Super Spiced Chocolate Cake

Not only is this maybe the easiest cake you ever made, it is completely vegan and has some surprising flavors to boot! Other than two unexpected spices you may need to begin to keep on hand from the bulk spices area of your specialty grocery, you likely have every one of these ingredients in your house any day of the week.  This is unlike any chocolate cake you have had before, and is super moist.  Feel free to add the icing or not based on the occasion, it is the kind of cake served with afternoon tea!

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 TBSP cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cardamom
1 tsp ground fennel
1 tsp white wine vinegar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup warm water

For Icing:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
3 TBSP soy milk
1 1/2 oz dark chocolate, cut/shaved, etc

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and oil up your cake round.  I used a bundt pan, but a smaller diameter cake pan will work even better to create a beautiful dome!

First, combine all your dry ingredients into a bowl and mix together.  In a separate bowl, mix your wet ingredients before combining all your wet and drys!  Mix well and pour into your prepared cake pan.  Bake for one hour.

Once complete, I will let it cook a bit until I can remove my cake from the pan.  If you are adding icing, over low heat combine your powdered sugar, soy milk, and chocolate until it has all melted and combined to something around the thickness of pancake batter.  You can add more soy milk to create that consistency.  Once smooth, pour over your cake, allow it to harden, and enjoy!!

Chipotle Smashed Sweet Potatoes

Here is a twist on smashed sweet potatoes you would never normally think of....but so delicious.  This taste registers on the back of your tongue in this unexpected way!! It is super easy, and a great compliment to my black bean soup.  Thanks for the idea, Alton Brown!

2 large sweet potatoes
2 TBSP Earth Balance
1 chipotle pepper in adobo, diced
1 tsp chipotle sauce from the same can
salt and pepper

To begin, cook your sweet potatoes however you like.  I prefer to roast the potatoes in the oven although this takes time.  You can also peel, cube, and steam your potatoes.... it is up to you! I place mine in a 350 degree oven for 1 1/2 hours until the aroma consumes my house! I then allow the potatoes to cool a bit to the touch and simply allow them to slip out of their skins like nothing! Next, I place them into a medium size bowl and mash them with the Earth Balance.  Add the chipotle pepper and sauce and season with salt and pepper.  Taste to adjust the flavor and enjoy!! Mmm....

Potato Salad

Growing up, I always though of potato salad as something drenched in mayo with egg and served with barbeque.  The combination of it all equals off limits for vegans...until now! Potato salad has evolved! This has become my go-to for left over potatoes and goes perfectly with sandwiches during the summer...just like old school potato salad. This is an adaption from latin potato salad, so compliments to the chefs!

3 lbs baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
3 TBSP white wine vinegar (rice wine vinegar works fine, too)
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup chopped green onions
Salt and pepper

Begin by boiling your potatoes.  Do this by covering the potatoes in a pot with just enough water.  Bring the water to a boil, salt, and adjust the water to a simmer.  Allow the potatoes to cook in there about another 10 minutes.  Dont add the potatoes at boiling, like noodles, or the texture will be all messed up.  The potatoes should be tender when pierced.  Drain the potatoes and set aside to cool.  While they are cooling, toss them with the vinegar carefully trying not to break them out of their potato cubes.

Once the potatoes have cooled, toss them with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Once you have the perfect flavor balance, add the green onions and serve immediately or chilled! I like to sometimes add a little more of the vinegar since that adds the pop that I never expected!!

Enjoy!

Smokey Black Bean Soup

As a vegan, black bean soup has been a main go to forever when I go out to eat.  Although at home, I can't ever seem to find a recipe that works as well as I want it to! Finally, I have found the perfect mix of flavor and simplicity that I want to go to over and over again.  Before you start, you are going to need 2 things you may or may not have in your pantry, so prepare accordingly: liquid smoke and vegan Worcestershire.  You CAN find it at Whole Foods right next to the liquid smoke! One stop shop!

3 TBSP olive oil
2 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion
6-7 garlic cloves, smashed and minced
2 cups vegetable broth
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
2 TBSP ketchup
2 tsp vegan Worcestershire sauce
1 TBSP chili powder
1 12oz light, decent quality beer (I used Dos Equis)
1 tsp+ liquid smoke
4 15oz cans of black beans (washed) or 6 cups black beans
Salt and pepper
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
Juice of 1 lime
Green onions to top

To begin, sweat your onions in the oil until they are translucent, about 4 minutes.  Add your garlic and cook another minute or so until it is fragrant.  Add the broth, tomatoes, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, beans, and beer.  Stir in the beer and bring it to a boil.  Allow the soup to boil for about 10 minutes so that the liquid reduces significantly.  Meanwhile, stem the cilantro and chop.  Add this to the soup after it has cooked 10 minutes and let it simmer for another 5 minutes.  At the very end, add the juice of one lime.  If ten minutes is not enough time to thicken the soup, allow the soup to keep cooking down.

At this point, I generally let the soup cool a bit and then blend about half of the soup in the blender so that the consistency of the soup transitions from something chili-like to more of a soup.  This thickens it and makes it more creamy.  Add the blended soup back to the rest of what is in your pot and serve! I like to add green onions to the top for soup perfection!

Enjoy!