vegan Archives - Page 3 of 4

Sweet and Spicy Pepitas #SundaySupper

September 29, 2013 ·

Sweet and Spicy Pepitas are roasted pumpkin seeds made into a crunchy snack that is a little sweet, a little spicy and a lot delicious! {naturally nut-free, gluten-free and vegan}

With Fall upon us, I am in full pumpkin mode. So far I have made pumpkin cake, pie, pasta, muffins, and still have more pumpkin recipes I want to make this season. Not only do I love pumpkin puree, I also adore pumpkin seeds and pepitas! Pepitas are the lovely little raw green seeds inside the pumpkin seed shell. They are a great alternative to nuts, yet offer many of the same health benefits. Like nuts, they are packed with protein, vitamins and antioxidants. I find them in the bulk bin at the grocery store or sometimes near the bags of sunflower seeds….

Filed Under: appetizers, gluten free, healthy, kid-friendly, Recipes, vegan

Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup #SundaySupper

September 22, 2013 ·

Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup is smooth, creamy and a little spicy! This delicious and health soup is easy to make and pure comfort food.

Since today is officially the first day of Fall, the Sunday Supper theme for this week is “Fall Foods.” I had several ideas for this one, but after making Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup, it was the obvious choice to celebrate the season. A warm soup made with sweet potatoes, that is smooth and creamy, is perfect comfort food for when the temperatures start to get cooler. A little spice from the chipotle chile adds just enough heat and depth to make it interesting. Made as-is, this Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup is vegan and gluten free….

Filed Under: gluten free, healthy, kid-friendly, Recipes, soup, vegan, vegetarian Tagged With: chipotle, dinner, easy, fall, sweet potato, vegetable

Sweet Potato Hummus - sweet, spicy, vegan, delicious!

Sweet Potato Hummus #SundaySupper

September 8, 2013 ·

Sweet Potato Hummus is a little sweet, a little spicy and a lot delicious! This hummus is healthy, quick and easy to make, and vegan.

With Football season means it is tailgating time! Whenever I’m tailgating, at a barbecue, picnic or party, the first thing I look for is something healthy, like fresh vegetables. And if there is something healthy to go with them, such as hummus, I am a happy girl! It just so happens that ‘tailgating’ is the theme for this week’s Sunday Supper, and I am bringing to the party a healthy treat to go with that ~ Sweet Potato Hummus!

Who would have thought the addition of sweet potato to a basic hummus recipe, along with some spice and some heat, would result in such a tasty (and healthy!) dip. Paprika and chipotle seasoning really enhance the sweet potato and are otherwise complementary to the traditional hummus flavors. Sweet Potato Hummus is also very easy to make and a wonderful accompaniment to a vegetable tray, pretzel crisps or whole wheat pita chips. It would also be great on a wrap or as a sandwich spread.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the Sunday Supper group brought to our Tailgate party!

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Filed Under: appetizers, gluten free, healthy, Recipes, sides, vegan, vegetarian Tagged With: chickpeas, dip, easy, hummus, quick, sweet potato

Chocolate Banana Brownies

July 11, 2013 ·

Chocolate Banana Brownies are so rich and fudgy, you would never guess they are low in fat (and can be made vegan)!

Chocolate Banana Brownies | alidaskitchen.com

I’ve been on a bit of a brownie kick lately and found myself choosing between three different brownies recipes to share with you today. These Chocolate Banana Brownies were at the top of the list. A brownie that is so rich and fudgy, you would never guess it’s low in fat (and can be made vegan)? Yes please!

The addition of bananas not only puts a tasty twist on these brownies, but it also helps reduce some of the added fat. There are also no eggs in this recipe. Changes from the original recipe include using whole wheat pastry flour instead of all-purpose (either one works fine, I just wanted a whole wheat brownie) and using brown sugar instead of granulated, because I love the flavor brown sugar adds to baked goods. Use your favorite non-dairy milk and non-dairy chocolate chips, and you have a delicious vegan dessert that everybody will love!

Chocolate Banana Brownies

Author: Alida Fischbach

Yields: 13x9-inch pan of brownies (see note for servings)

Ingredients

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour (or all-purpose flour)
2 cups packed brown sugar
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
1 cup mashed overripe bananas (2-3, depending on size)
¼ cup milk (use soy or almond for vegan)
¼ cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (use dairy-free for vegan)
Cooking spray

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350*F. Spray a 13x9-inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk flour, brown sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt.
In a medium bowl, stir bananas, milk, oil, and vanilla until well-blended.
Add banana mixture to flour mixture, gently stirring until just combined. Add chocolate chips, folding gently.
Pour batter into prepared baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (Be careful not to over bake, otherwise the brownie may not be as fudgy). Move pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into squares to serve.

Notes

Note: 24 squares = 150 calores/brownie, 36 squares = 100 calories/brownie. These amounts are approximations based on the ingredients I used.

Source: About.com

Have more overripe bananas? Here are some other healthy, easy recipes to try:

Pumpkin Banana Muffins

Banana Buttermilk Muffins

Healthy Banana Cookies

Filed Under: dessert, Favorites, healthy, kid-friendly, Recipes, vegan Tagged With: banana, brownies, chocolate, vegan

Honey Roasted Chickpeas with Sea Salt {Garbanzo Beans}

May 15, 2013 ·

honey roasted chickpeas with sea salt | alidaskitchen.com

Honey Roasted Chickpeas with Sea Salt are a healthy, sweet and salty snack that is easy to make. They are high in fiber, protein-packed, gluten free, dairy free…and Adam can’t get enough of them (in other words, they’re toddler friendly too!)

Honey Roasted Chickpeas are made with only a few simple ingredients, and you most likely have everything you need already in your pantry. In fact, all you really need is one ingredient, and that’s the chickpeas. The additional ingredients are simply for flavoring, but roasted chickpeas are super crunchy and delicious straight from the oven. In this case I made them honey roasted with sea salt, however I have other variations in the works that I am excited to share with you soon!

Honey Roasted Chickpeas with Sea Salt

Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients

15 ounce can chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
1 tablespoon honey
½ tablespoon canola oil (or other neutral tasting oil)
sea salt, add to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Empty chickpeas into a colander. Rinse until no longer foamy and drain. Put chickpeas onto paper towels to pat dry. (Optional: remove skins from chickpeas. Not necessary, but I recommend it).
Place chickpeas in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes, or until chickpeas are crunchy. (If they're soft, put them back in for 5 minutes until crunchy).
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk honey and oil. Add hot chickpeas and toss to coat. Pour chickpeas back on lined baking sheet and return to the oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or until caramelized. Sprinkle with sea salt, as desired, and let cool. Store in an airtight container.

Notes

Slightly adapted from fitsugar.com

Filed Under: appetizers, gluten free, healthy, kid-friendly, Recipes, vegan Tagged With: baby/toddler, chickpeas, dairy free, easy, honey, quick, roasted, snack

healthy cocoa chocolate coconut date truffles balls

Healthy Chocolate Coconut Truffles

March 18, 2013 ·

Healthy Chocolate Coconut Truffles are an easy recipe made in minutes using only 3 ingredients with no added fat or sugar. {vegan, gluten free}

Healthy Chocolate Coconut Truffles have the delicious flavors of dark chocolate and coconut…all coming in around 60 calories and without any added sugar of fat. They are made using only 3 main ingredients (plus an optional ingredient which helps to deepen and intensify the chocolate flavor). Even better – they take only minutes to make. Intrigued? I certainly was when I first found the recipe but it took me over 9 months to make them. I am kicking myself that it took so long…they are so amazingly good!

Thankfully, it is time again for the second installment of the Eating the Alphabet Challenge, hosted by Brenda of Meal Planning Magic. Participating in this challenge was the extra push I needed to make these truffles. This month we’re featuring healthy recipes using fruits, vegetables, grains or legumes that start with letters C or D. Since Healthy Chocolate Coconut Truffles feature both coconut and dates, I’ve got both letters covered this month.

Healthy Chocolate Coconut Truffles

Yields: 20 truffles

Ingredients

8 ounces pitted dates (approx 1½ cups)
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons unsweetened flaked coconut
1 teaspoon espresso powder (optional)
¼ cup unsweetened flaked coconut, for rolling

Instructions

Put dates, cocoa, 3 tablespoons coconut and espresso powder in a food processor and puree until smooth. If mixture is too dry, add water by the teaspoonful (I needed about 3 teaspoons). If mixture becomes too wet, add more unsweetened coconut.
Scoop mixture by the tablespoonful and form 1-inch balls. Roll balls in remaining coconut.
Chill/store in refrigerator until ready to enjoy.

Source: Bon Appetit, June, 2012

Filed Under: dessert, gluten free, healthy, Recipes, vegan, vegetarian Tagged With: alphabet challege, chocolate, cocoa, coconut, dairy free, dates, easy, quick, truffles, vegan

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars

March 23, 2012 ·

In the spirit of the Peanut Butter for Breakfast campaign, I thought it would be fun to share some breakfast recipes using peanut butter. What better place to find inspiration than the National Peanut Board’s website. I found so many delicious ideas, including these super healthy granola bars. It is amazing how easy and inexpensive it is to make granola bars right at home. And they’re good too!

These granola bars have a perfect balance of flavors and a nice texture that is not too chewy, not too crispy. They are naturally sweetened with dried fruit and a touch of molasses. The peanut butter is present, but subtle, and acts as a binder with the egg whites. Add a little spice, some oats and seeds, and you have a healthy, high-protein, high-fiber granola bar that is perfect for an on-the-go breakfast, a mid-morning pick me up, or any time the mood strikes.

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars

Yields: 8 bars

Ingredients

Cooking spray
2 tablespoons natural peanut butter (chunky or creamy)
3 egg whites
1 tablespoon molasses
1½ cup rolled oats
¼ cup dried fruit, such as dates, raisins, prunes, chopped (I used dates)
2 tablespoon flaxseed meal
2 tablespoons pepitas (green pumpkin seeds) or sunflower seeds
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 8-inch square baking pan with foil and spray foil with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, egg whites and molasses until combined.
In a separate bowl, mix together the oats, dried fruit, flaxseed, pepitas, sesame seeds and pumpkin pie spice.
Add the oat mixture to the peanut butter mixture, and stir until combined.
Pour into prepared baking dish and use a silicone spatula (or the back of a spoon sprayed with cooking spray) to spread the mixture into the pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan. Remove from pan by lifting out the foil and then cut into 8 bars.

Adapted from the National Peanut Board

Filed Under: breakfast, gluten free, healthy, Recipes, vegan, vegetarian Tagged With: baby/toddler, dates, easy, flaxseed, oats, peanut, peanut butter, pepitas, snack

vegetarian black bean tortilla soup with corn that is vegan and gluten free

Chunky Tortilla Soup with Black Beans

January 12, 2012 ·

We have had the good fortune of enjoying unseasonably warm weather over the past few weeks, and it has been fabulous. In fact, I even considered firing up the grill. Of course a brisk, windy day, along with temperatures in the single digits, set me straight. I went back to craving wintery comfort foods, and this Chunky Tortilla Soup with Black Beans is the epitome of wintery comfort food. It’s warm, a little spicy and filled with vegetables.

From the original recipe, I used tomatoes with chiles, added more vegetables and increased the chili powder. This soup reheats beautifully, though over time the broth gets absorbed making it almost like a chili. I like it that way, but if you prefer your soup more soupy, I recommend adding some broth or water when reheating. Chunky Tortilla Soup with Black Beans is a healthy and delicious soup, and perfect to enjoy this winter!

Chunky Tortilla Soup with Black Beans

Yields: 4-6 servings

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
5 garlic cloves, minced (or grated)
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 cans (14½ ounces each) diced tomates with green chiles, including juices
2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, rinsed and drained
4-6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
10 ounces frozen corn
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 cup crushed tortilla chips, plus more for serving (optional)
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Instructions

In a large Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Cook onion for 5-7 minutes, until softened. Add garlic and chili powder and cook until fragrant (about 1 minute).
Add tomatoes (with juice), beans, broth, spinach and corn; season with salt and pepper to taste.
Bring soup to a boil; reduce to a simmer. Add tortilla chips, cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lime juice. Serve soup with lime wedges and more chips.

Notes

Adapted from Everyday Food Light

Filed Under: gluten free, healthy, main dishes, Recipes, soup, vegan, vegetarian Tagged With: beans, black beans, chili, corn, dinner, easy, garlic, lime, low fat, lunch, onion, quick, vegan

healthy chocolate peanut butter oat coconut bites

Healthy Peanut Butter Balls

October 5, 2011 ·

Healthy Peanut Butter Balls are an addictive, no-bake snack, made from simple ingredients found in your pantry.

It is no secret that I love peanut butter. So you can imagine my excitement when I was selected to participate in the Foodbuzz Tastemaker program with the National Peanut Board. The task was to create a snack recipe using peanut butter and incorporating other ingredients found in most homes. Easy enough!

I wanted to make something healthy, convenient and easy. I also wanted to make something with oats. It was time to roll up my sleeves, grab ingredients from the pantry and experiment.

healthy chocolate peanut butter oatmeal coconut bites

After adding a little here, a touch there,…voila! I finally got the results I was looking for, using simple wholesome ingredients found in my pantry.

This healthy snack could not be any easier to make. The recipe requires no baking; simply measure, mix, roll and chill. The mixture may seem a little dry at first, but as you continue to mix it comes together (or add a little more honey or peanut butter to moisten the mixture to a consistency that works for you). Rolling the balls in a coating as optional. It makes the balls a little less sticky on the fingers, and also is a fun way to vary the flavors, but it is not necessary.

Healthy Peanut Butter Balls are a healthy and delicious snack, or even a quick breakfast on-the-go, featuring one of my favorite foods of all time…peanut butter!

Healthy Peanut Butter Balls

Print

Yields: 16-18 balls

Ingredients

1 cup peanut butter, natural is preferred (chunky or creamy)

2 tablespoons honey (or agave nectar)

1 cup rolled oats

2 tablespoons ground flaxseed or wheat germ

2 tablespoons sweetened flaked coconut

cocoa powder, wheat germ, powdered sugar, chopped peanuts, (optional) – for coating

Instructions

Heat peanut butter and honey in the microwave until easily mixed, about 15-20 seconds. Stir until blended.

In a separate bowl, mix oats, flaxseed and coconut (if using) until combined.

Add peanut butter mixture to oat mixture and stir until incorporated. (Mixture may seem a little dry at first…just keep mixing).

Form a rounded tablespoonful of the combined mixture into a ball and place on a plate. Repeat until all mixture is used. Now, if you do not want to coat the balls, skip to step 6.

Roll each ball in whatever coating suits your preference. Cocoa powder, powdered sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon sugar and chopped peanuts are some ideas.

3.5.3251

Disclaimer: As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker program, I was provided with 2 jars of Planters peanut butter, from the National Peanut Board, for free. The details of my experience are exclusively my opinion, and I was not otherwise influenced or compensated.

Filed Under: dessert, gluten free, healthy, kid-friendly, Popular, Recipes, vegan, vegetarian Tagged With: chocolate, coconut, flaxseed, honey, oats, peanut butter, product review, snack, tastemaker

Chipotle Black Bean Tacos

August 1, 2011 ·

Chipotle Black Bean Tacos are a delicious meatless taco recipe filled with black beans and vegetables. {gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, depending on toppings}

Chipotle Black Bean Tacos | alidaskitchen.com

Chipotle Black Bean Tacos are my favorite dish for meatless Monday, taco Tuesday or any day. They are fabulous! These tacos are made with mashed black beans, onions, peppers, chipotle peppers, spices, salsa, some broth, and then topped with any of your favorite taco toppings. The taco filling reheats well, and I often enjoy leftovers for lunches throughout the week (that is if there are any leftovers).

These Chipotle Black Bean Tacos can be vegan and gluten free, depending on the tortillas and/or toppings. I enjoy them as a vegetarian options, since I like to add a bit of cheese. The taco filling reheats well, and I often enjoy leftovers for lunches throughout the week (that is if there are any leftovers).

Chipotle Black Bean Tacos

Author: Alida Fischbach

Yields: 6 servings

Ingredients

1 tablespoon canola oil
1 onion, chopped
2 bell peppers (ribs and seeds removed), chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1-2 teaspoons chipotle chili in adobo sauce, minced
⅓ cup vegetable broth
2 15 ounce cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
½ cup salsa
6 10-inch whole wheat tortillas
Topping ideas for serving: spinach or lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, Greek yogurt or sour cream, chopped green onions, salsa

Instructions

Heat oil in large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and peppers to pan and saute for 3-5 minutes, until crisp-tender.
Add garlic, chili powder, cumin and chipotle chilis, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add beans and broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat until medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes, until mixture has thickened.
Remove from heat and stir in salsa. Mash lightly using a potato masher (or fork).
Stack tortillas, wrap in damp paper towel and microwave for 45-60 seconds.
Serve ⅓ cup filling for each tortilla along with desired toppings.

Notes

Adapted from Pink Parsley, originally from Cooking Light