tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72663363797701127642024-02-18T17:37:11.444-08:00Benevolent BitesRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-40530320270030047322011-11-11T13:17:00.000-08:002011-11-11T13:17:50.471-08:00Tzatziki Sauce and Baked Falafel
Baked falafel, tzatziki sauce, green hummus and veggies
Who doesn’t love falafel with all the fixin’s (for me this includes hummus or tahini sauce, fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, and most importantly tzatziki sauce!)? But – I realize this confession is probably outing me as a serious buzz kill – I’m not in love with fried food. On a VERY rare occasion, I’m cool with it.&Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-73800668175816468682011-11-09T19:04:00.000-08:002011-11-10T12:34:19.794-08:00King Oyster Mushroom Scallops with White Wine, Lemon and Garlic PastaIf you’ve never used king oyster mushrooms to replicate the texture and flavor of scallops, you are in for a treat! The texture is chewy, yet tender at the same time. They have a very mild flavor, and a pleasant, meaty bite that makes you completely forget that you are eating a mushroom. And best yet, they are ridiculously easy to prepare.
I love to serve these Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-28545296771211533532011-10-24T19:27:00.000-07:002011-10-24T19:27:18.504-07:00Liebster Award
Kate Allan at The Spade and Spoon nominated me for a Liebster Award (German for favorite, beloved, or dearest)! Thank you, Kate. From what I gather, the award is meant to recognize and promote lesser known blogs. Yay! I’m definitely feeling the vegan love. I’m showing my thanks by linking to 5 blogs that I would like to nominate in turn. Check ‘em out, and Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-81146946455419796112011-10-21T13:13:00.000-07:002011-10-21T14:14:44.625-07:00Raw (or not) Beet Burgers
These burgers are so good. So good. They have an incredible depth of flavor, perfect burger texture, and these suckers are super healthy without tasty at all "health foodie". The sweet, earthy flavor of the beets goes perfectly with the smoky spices, and the miso contributes a rich, slightly salty flavor.
Although you could certainly just form the patties and eat as is, I Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-793589931322889992011-10-19T16:41:00.000-07:002011-10-21T11:32:39.688-07:00Baked Donuts
I made donuts. ‘Nuff said.
Kidding. But there really is a certain sense of satisfaction that comes with making your own donuts. I found donut pans in pristine condition for $2 a piece at the thrift store several months back. Knowing how much my husband loves donuts (he has a motto: there is always room for a donut) and since they were super cheap, I scooped them up. Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-25824400774815520592011-10-13T16:55:00.000-07:002011-10-19T16:33:04.281-07:00Raw Wilted Kale Salad with a Creamy Chipotle Dressing
Over the last 6 months or so, I’ve really been trying to incorporate more raw foods into my diet. In my quest to find satisfying, delicious, and easy to prepare raw recipes I came across Russell James’, otherwise known as The Raw Chef, website and became a fast fan. He offers great tutorial videos and tons of raw recipes that are easy for a raw novice to follow.Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-56908957687198777102011-10-11T12:27:00.000-07:002011-10-11T17:19:04.726-07:00Cream Cheeze Frosting and Carrot Cake Work in Progress
I was running some errands last Saturday and stopped by Loving Hut for a snack while out and about. It must have been my lucky day because the owner was kind enough to give me a complimentary piece of carrot cake to go with my order – uh, hellz yah! The problem was that as soon as I had devoured said carrot cake (hey, I did share with my hubby), I just wanted moreRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-37352737160019025112011-10-10T15:01:00.000-07:002011-10-10T15:01:24.869-07:00Homemade Raw Almond Milk
The flavor of homemade almond milk is so deliciously fresh and the almond flavor is much more intense than the store-bought variety. I love to drink it straight-up or use it in cereal in the morning so I can really savor the yummy almond flavor. As long as you remember to soak your almonds the night before, it’s also very quick and simple to make. You can choose to flavor or Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-46322730117462520352011-10-07T17:14:00.000-07:002011-10-13T16:03:13.998-07:00Chesapeake Bay Tempeh Cakes
These tempeh cakes are just amazing! If you’re new to cooking with tempeh, this is a great recipe to try. As a bonus, it teaches you how to steam the tempeh to remove any bitterness. These are some seriously tasy little cakes with a crispy pan-fried panko exterior that is truly reminiscent of the original. I definitely recommend using the optional nori sheet for added Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-3958068514422854992011-10-05T21:37:00.000-07:002011-10-13T16:02:22.605-07:00Toasted Sesame Quinoa Salad
This is a perfect fall salad. It is delightfully fresh, but very hearty as well. The fresh cilantro, toasty pecans, sweet dried cranberries, crunchy celery, and nutty quinoa with a tangy and slightly sweet toasted sesame dressing – yum! Also, there’s a lot of room for substitutions in this recipe. Try substituting half the lemon juice with freshly squeezed orange Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-48929722641656045032011-10-04T18:35:00.000-07:002011-10-06T10:50:13.918-07:00Creamy Almond Butter Cookie Ice Cream
I know most areas of the country are experiencing cooler fall weather right now. I’m a Portland, Or native who recently relocated to Phoenix, Az and it’s still regularly in the 90’s. While 90 degree weather in October is certainly new to me and has required some getting used to, it has had the much appreciated result of extending ice cream eating season. Yahoo! If you Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-78362577658073100002011-10-01T13:13:00.000-07:002011-10-11T12:09:34.219-07:00Lower-Fat Banana Bread
Cheers to Vegan MoFo! It’s just what I needed to give me that gentle nudge to start blogging again. Let’s get straight to the recipe – Lower-Fat Banana Bread from Veganomicon. It’s absolutely delicious, easy to make, and low-fat. It’s a great way to use up bananas that have become overly ripe. I drizzled on an easy maple cinnamon icing for an added sugar kick.
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-35906333318657479872011-03-01T11:31:00.000-08:002011-03-01T16:01:11.523-08:00And the winners are….. plus lava cakeFirst off, a big thank you to everyone who posted a comment for the contest and a big thank you to Coconut Bliss for donating the coupons. There were some pretty yummerific ideas. A quick recap: liz likes to make ice cream cookie sandwiches and roll the sides in flaked coconut, mmmorgan adds berries to straight up vanilla, jeff is a fan of milkshakes, and animal-friendly swirls Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-13389462395704522092011-02-24T10:29:00.000-08:002011-10-06T09:50:46.122-07:00Coconut Bliss Giveaway and Ice Cream Cookie PieCoconut Bliss
I’m a huge ice cream nut. It is my clear favorite dessert choice. After becoming vegan, I had a rough time finding a non-dairy ice cream that I really liked. Eventually, I came across Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss. Sweet relief! Finally, a creamy, rich, delicious non-dairy ice cream that is genuinely the best stuff ever. It tastes so much Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-66244188956317989302011-02-16T19:54:00.000-08:002011-02-17T08:09:14.275-08:00Let’s Talk Cocoa and ChocolateFor me, being vegan is about doing the best I can to avoid causing harm, period. Before proceeding, please let me clarify that my intention is not to sound preachy or to be judgmental. This is relatively new information for me, and I simply want to pass on a brief summary of the issue as well as some resources I have found helpful.
By chance I happened across the documentary, Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-44779739717601601262011-01-18T10:46:00.000-08:002011-02-07T12:52:13.608-08:00Spicy Sweet Potato Peanut Stew
This is a nice, thick, stick-to-your-ribs type of stew that is bursting with flavor. It is oh so comforting to snuggle up with on a chilly winter night. The marriage of sweet potato and peanut butter is a match made in heaven and hot green chiles add a good kick. Most of the sweet potato is blended together with everything else to create a luscious stew, and the last bits of Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-18458411806750565152010-12-16T19:49:00.000-08:002010-12-16T19:49:55.571-08:00Pumpkin French Toast
So it’s been just shy of a month since my last post. I’ll skip the excuses and try to make up for it by getting straight to the recipe. The recipe is from Isa Chandra Moskowitz’s cookbook Vegan Brunch and can be found on her website here. It’s so wonderfully delicious, I’ve made it twice within the last month. And if you think December is too late for pumpkin, I say Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-41476445647867633722010-11-18T19:21:00.000-08:002010-11-19T07:09:48.738-08:00Dreena Burton's Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies with a Twist
Who doesn’t love chocolate chip cookies? Apparently the whopping 39 members of the Everybody Who Hates Chocolate Chip Cookies facebook page. Sorry chip haters, you’re outnumbered. In any case, this is my go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe that will satisfy any cookie seeker’s craving. It’s brought to you by Dreena Burton’s Vive le Vegan! and posted on her blog here. Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-25043645806672101742010-11-16T20:35:00.000-08:002010-11-16T21:27:39.742-08:00Carnival Squashes Stuffed with a Lemon-Herb Rice Medley
I’m really excited about this recipe. It looks so pretty plated, and the sweet flesh of the carnival squash (think sweet potatoes or butternut squash) paired with the nutty flavor of the rice medley and the fresh lemony-herby bursts is purely sublime. You should easily be able to fill 5 squashes, halved. Maybe more. My assembly went something like… fill a squash half Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-84164785831977385572010-11-15T18:07:00.000-08:002010-11-16T21:07:37.023-08:00Grape FocacciaGrape Focaccia
Mmmm. See the sugar crystals?
I was super stoked when I scored a gallon-sized bag of red grapes from a friend. Yummy. But after a few days of eating grapes by the handful, I was ready to try something a little more interesting. By chance, I came across the idea for grape focaccia on Bryanna Clark Grogan’s blog http://veganfeastkitchen.blogspot.com. Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-64686708690044774712010-11-11T20:51:00.000-08:002010-11-12T16:31:29.141-08:00Zuppa Toscana
I love love love soup this time of year. My favorite part about this take on a Tuscan classic is that it uses blended potatoes to lend a super creamy texture to the soup’s base without adding fat. The Zuppa Toscana I had back in my omni days always had some sort of sausage in the recipe. To recreate the smoky sausage flavor without harming any of our animal friends, I added Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-19780644756334545012010-11-10T19:35:00.000-08:002010-11-10T19:39:22.849-08:00Peanut Sesame Hummus
Garnished with toasted sesame oil, roasted peanuts, and cilantro
So I am aware this is pretty stereotypical, but I am one hummus lovin' vegan. Dreena Burton has eight hummus recipes in her cookbook, Eat, Drink, & Be Vegan. I've tried six of them so far and they have all been a-mazing. However the Peanut Sesame Hummus is my hands down favorite. It's delicious as a Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-13612417367206863932010-11-09T20:26:00.000-08:002010-11-09T20:39:17.255-08:00Peanut Butter Parsley Doggie Biscuits
It was our little Southie Bean’s birthday at the end of October. DH and I of course got her the standard rope toy and a fuzzy squeak toy (her favs), but I also wanted to make her something special. We have to be really careful with her weight, so it had to be a small portion and relatively healthy. I happened to spot the cutest doggie cookie cutter at our local grocer that I Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-2880322420640748032010-11-08T15:08:00.000-08:002010-12-12T20:03:55.154-08:00Party Food Part 6: Cakes!Cakes:
The cake turned out to be the biggest hit of the party, and I must confess cakes are always my favorite item to make. I’m definitely a decorating novice, but it’s so much fun I relish any opportunity to practice. All recipes are either directly from or variations of recipes from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World (the BEST cookbook for all things cupcakes and cake). I Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266336379770112764.post-59060477517235283032010-11-08T14:45:00.000-08:002010-12-12T20:02:57.963-08:00Party Food Part 5: Sweet Potato FriesSweet Potato FriesThese are ridiculously easy to make and were the first thing to completely disappear. I used the following method: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut 2-3 large sweet potatoes into medium fry-sized strips. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper and coat with non-stick canola oil cooking spray. Arrange fries in a single layer on the cookie sheets (Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07220424819377977295noreply@blogger.com0