NATURE

ANIMAL SENTIENCE

Evidence from multiple scientific studies has helped us to understand that a wide range, of animals, if not most are sentient beings. It seems that they have the capacity to experience positive and negative feelings such as pleasure, joy, pain, fear and mourning such as humans do.

This is Skye for Peas and Peace

JADE, WILLOW, SKYE & VALENTINA

VALENTINA

Simply want to introduce to you my precious Valentina, she is my daughter’s French Bulldog. She is simply delicious, I have the pleasure of looking after her for one week 🙂

She has a friendly, mild-mannered temperament, very smart and very funny.

Desserts, RECIPES

Baked Cinnamon & Sugar Coated Donuts

* Makes 12

Ingredients

1 cup of all purpose flour
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1/8 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons of soya milk
1 tablespoon of unsweetened applesauce
1 tablespoon vegan butter (Melted)
1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

Neutral oil spray to coat the donut pan

Coating

1/2 cup of granulated sugar
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/4 cup vegan butter (Melted)

Directions for the donuts

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a donut pan with the oil spray.
  2. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. Pour the soya milk, applesauce, melted vegan butter and vanilla into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Mix well with a large wooden spoon to combine.
  3. Spoon the batter into the donut pan with a small ladle , filling about 1/2 of the way full. Be careful not to overfill, as the donuts will rise and you might lose your donut hole.
  4. Bake for 10 minutes. Let cool for three minutes in the pan, then carefully transfer to a wire rack, let cool completely.

For the coating

  1. Stir together the sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl, and melt the vegan butter in a separate bowl. 

2. Dip the donuts into the melted butter just one side. Then dunk the donut into the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat completely. Once you have coated all 12 if you have any mix left, repeat the coating process minus the butter.

Leftover donuts will keep for two days, covered and at room temperature.

Enjoy ! with a Chai tea or a Cappuccino

Cristina for Peas and Peace

Bread, Focaccia, Pizza

Whole Wheat, Pumpkin & Sesame Seed Bread

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Ingredients

– 4 cups whole wheat flour
– 2 cups warm water
– 1 Tbsp instant yeast
– 1/2 Tbsp of sea salt
– 1 Tbsp olive oil
– 1 Tbsp of agave
– 1 Tbsp grounded flaxseeds
– 1 Tbsp of sunflower seeds
– 1 Tbsp of pumpkin seeds
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Instructions

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

You can use your mixer by using the dough attachment or you can mix by hand

1. In a large bowl combine: whole wheat flour, instant yeast, salt, olive oil, agave, grounded flaxseeds, sunflower & pumpkin seeds.
2. Add a bit of the water at a time to get the right consistency. You can always add extra flour if you feel that the dough is too wet. It should not stick to the sides of the bowl. Shape into a ball.
3. Grease your Dutch oven pot with olive oil with a brush, making sure you put enough oil on the sides as well so it does not stick. and transfer the dough ball into it.

4. Cover and let rise for 60 minutes.
5. In the meantime, preheat the oven at 390°
6. When the oven is preheated, slash the bread with a knife, making a cut about 1 ½-inch deep or 3 diagonals are also pretty, as you wish !
7. Bake in the oven, uncovered, for 40 minutes, or until deep golden brown and risen. You can use a toothpick or cake tester to double check if it is properly cooked in the inside.
8. Remove bread from the oven and let it rest in the Dutch oven pot for 10 minutes.
9. Remove from the pot and let it cool down before slicing.

Enjoy this healthy delicious bread, dip it in olive oil or as a sandwich ! 🙂

Cristina for Peas and Peace

Desserts, RECIPES

5 Ingredient Vegan Chocolate Mousse

You can make this mousse in 5 minutes, literaly ! just pull out your blender and voila you have yourself a treat in no time.

Ingredients (serves 2)

  • 2 large ripe avocados
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup of almond milk
  • 3 tsp of agave
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Toppings of your choice 🙂

I used chocolate pearls, roasted hazelnuts & a macadamia nut, sprinkled with cocoa powder

Directions:

Purée in a blender or food processor the avocado until smooth.

Mix in together the cocoa powder and milk until well combined.

Add the agave and vanilla extract and blend well one last time.

Transfer the mousse to individual bowls or glasses and store in the fridge until ready to eat.

Delicious and healthy !

Cristina for Peas and Peace

Desserts, RECIPES

Oatmeal Cookies

*Makes 4 large cookies

INGREDIENTS

Dry ingredients

  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • ½ cup oat flour
  • ¼ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

Wet Ingredients

  • 3 tbs melted coconut oil
  • 2 tbs coconut sugar
  • 2 tbs pure maple syrup
  • 1 flax egg  (1 tbs flaxseed + 3 tablespoons water, whisk together and let set for 15 minutes)
  • ½ tsp pure vanilla extract

*Powdered sugar to sprinkle (Optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchement paper or a silicone mat. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the wet ingredients
  4. Pour the wet mixture over the dry mixture. Using a rubber spatula, stir and fold until well mixed.
  5. Use a 2 inch ice cream scooper and drop cookie dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet—spaced evenly apart. Using a fork, flatten cookies about halfway. Cookies will spread during baking.
  6. Bake for 15 minutes. Place baking sheet on a cooling rack, allowing the cookies to firm up and sprinkle with icing sugar if you wish .
  7. Allow to cool for 1 hour if you will be storing them.

Enjoy with a cappuccino or a chai latte !

Cristina for Peas and Peace

Desserts, RECIPES

Roasted Almond Chocolates

5 ingredients only and you have yourself a little treat in no time, either for yourself or as a gift !

  • makes 15 chocolates

Ingredients:

1/2 cup melted cocoa butter
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 tsp of vanilla
2/3 cup cocoa powder
45 Roasted almonds, you can also use salted roasted almonds if you wish

1. Melt the cocoa butter in a pan. Remove and add maple syrup & vanilla. 
2. Using a whisk, add cocoa powder and mix until smooth.


Place 2 whole almonds into each of a silicone chocolate mold bottom, then cover with chocolate. Top with an almond or 2….. 🙂


Place in the freezer to firm up for about 15 mins

Remove from mold and place in mini muffin cups of your choice.

Enjoy !

Cristina for Peas and Peace

Breakfast, RECIPES

4 Ingredient Waffle recipe !

  • Makes 8 waffles
  •  2 & 1/4 Cups of all purpose flour
  • 1 Tablespoon of Baking Powder
  • 1/4 Cup Vegan Butter 
  • 1 & 2/3 Cups of Unsweetened Almond Milk

Combine the flour and baking powder. Cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse cornmeal.  Add in the water and whisk. Pour into a hot waffle iron. Should you want to add chocolate powder or chocolate chips or vanilla is also fun, just to change it up

I then also have fun in topping them with fruit, dust icing sugar, powder chocolate in this case, and let’s not forget maple syrup ! Yum !

If any leftover, simply pop them in the toaster !

Enjoy !

Cristina for Peas & Peace

Desserts, RECIPES

SOFT PUMPKIN COOKIES

These cookies are so soft, like biting into a cloud

*Makes 24 cookies

Ingredients cookies

  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup softened vegan butter
  • 1 1/4 cups pumpkin purée
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/4 tsp salt

For the pumpkin spice icing

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons soya milk
  • 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • Neutral spray oil for cookie scoop

  1. To make the cookies: Preheat oven to 350F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. 
  2. Add the sugar and vegan butter to a large bowl and use a mixer to cream the sugar and butter together. Add the pumpkin and vanilla extract and mix in. Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt and mix well to combine.
  3. Lightly spray a cookie scoop with neutral oil, scoop the cookie battre and drop it onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat to fill your tray, evenly spacing the cookies. Bake for 15 minutes until the cookies are golden. Let the cookies cool completely before icing.
  4. Sprinkle top with coarse sugar if you wish.

  1. To make the icing: add the powdered sugar, soya milk, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla extract to a small bowl and whisk to combine. Drizzle over the cookies. Let the cookies rest to set the icing. Store the cookies at room temperature for up to a week or freeze in an air-tight container.
RECIPES, Sides

Scalloped Potatoes

The holidays approaching, this is a wonderful dish that marries well with any meal, it is creamy in texture, and the blends of different spices makes it for a successful dish.

*Makes 9 or 18 portions depending on what size you cut them

Ingredients

  • 6 tsp olive oil 
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
  • 6 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
  • 6 tbsp all purpose flour (all purpose)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/2  tsp onion powder
  •  zest of 1/2 of a lemon 
  • 1 tsp of rosemary
  • 1 tsp  of thyme
  • 1 tsp miso paste
  • 2 tsp stoneground mustard 
  • 4 cups of soya milk at room temp 
  • 4 large or 8 medium yukon gold potatoes
  • Neutral spray oil

Instructions

  • Heat a saucepan over medium heat. Add oil and let it heat up a bit. Add onion and garlic and cook for 2 mins. Add the flour and herbs, black pepper and salt and mix in. Cook for half a minute, add in the lemon zest, miso and mustard and mix in and cook for another few seconds.
  • Add in half cup of the milk and mix in, add in the another half cup and mix in so that there are no lumps. Add in the rest of the non dairy milk and mix in and bring to a boil. Cook for 3 mins then take off heat.
  • Peel and slice the potatoes into an 1/8th inch thick slices with a Mandolin.
  • Oil spray a 10 x 12 baking dish and arrange the slices of half of potatoes overlapping each other. Pour 1/4 of the sauce over them, then repeat the overlapping with the other half of potatoes and lastly pour remaining of the sauce, make sure all potatoes are covered.
  • Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Once done broil for a minute to brown the top, it gives it a nice finish.
  • I sprinkled the top with dried parsley, but you can certainly choose another herb such a chive

Enjoy !

Cristina for Peas and Peace

Desserts, RECIPES

Triple Your Chocolate Pleasure

A chocolate cupcake, chocolate frosting & chocolate toppings what could a chocolate lover ask more for !

Makes 10 cupcakes

Ingredients


Chocolate Cupcakes

  • 3/4 cup almond milk
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/3 cup melted coconut oil
  • 2 tsp espresso
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup of spelt flour
  • 3/4 cup cane sugar
  • 5 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • pinch of  salt

Chocolate frosting

  • 1 cup vegan butter
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 4 cups icing sugar
  • 1/4 cup almond milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • pinch of salt

Toppings could be chocolate chips & chocolate chunks or your favorites let your imagination go

Instructions

Cupcakes

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners
  2. Mix the almond milk and apple cider vinegar and set aside
  3. Next, add the coconut oil, vanilla extract and espresso
  4. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl
  5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix together until smooth
  6. Spoon the batter into your pan, filling 3/4 of the way
  7. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean
  8. To make the frosting, cream together the butter and cocoa powder until combined. Add the icing sugar 1 cup at a time until incorporated. Then add the vanilla and salt and beat on high until light and fluffy
  9. Use a piping bag to pipe icing onto the cupcakes
  10. Top with chocolate chips  & chocolate chunks

Enjoy !

Cristina for Peas & Peace

Desserts, RECIPES

Chai Doughnuts with Maple Glazing & Pecans


I love chai & maple syrup, these donoughts are fluffy in texture and taste amazing !


Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup organic cane sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp allspice
  • 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 & 1/3 cups almond milk
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil melted and cooled
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Neutral cooking spray

Maple glaze: 

  • 1 cup icing sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp Maple syrup
  • 2 tsp almond milk

Topping:

Crushed pecans or nut of your choice

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and spray a doughnut pan with neutral cooking spray.
  2. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Set aside.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until combined.
  5. Spoon the donut mixture into a piping bag.
  6. Pipe the batter into the pan filling 3/4 of the way full.
  7. Bake for 10 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  8. To make the glaze, mix all the glaze ingredients together in a bowl. The mixture should be smooth and silky, but not too thin. (If yours is very thin, simply add a bit more icing sugar)
  9. Once the donuts are cooled completely, dip them in the glaze and sprinkle crushed pecans on top.
  10. Let sit for 30 minutes for the glaze to set.

Enjoy ! and Share 🙂

Cristina for Peas and Peace

HEALTH

Home Made Orange Juice !

Always better than store bought.

No preservatives, no added sugars.

Made in no time.

It doesn’t have to be expensive, simply buy the less costly oranges you can find at the market.

Cristina for Peas and Peace

Pies, Quiches, RECIPES

Eggless Quiche

*Makes 8 Servings

Ingredients

For the crust:

  • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds
  • 5.5 tablespoons water
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1-2 tablespoons water, as needed

For the filling:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup chopped cremini mushrooms
  • 1 cup chopped baby spinach
  • 500 gr of silken tofu, drained
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

For the crust:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 9 inch Quiche pan.
  • Combine the ground flaxseeds and water in a small bowl and set aside. This is your flax egg.
  • In a food processor add the dry ingredients (almond flour, all purpose flour and salt) and pulse to combine. With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil and flax egg. Add 1-2 tablespoons water as needed until the dough sticks together when you press it between your fingers.
  • Crumble the dough into the pan and press the mixture evenly on the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Press firmly and evenly. Poke a few holes in the bottom of the crust, and then bake for 12 minutes. Remove and set aside while you make the filling. Increase the oven temperature to 375 degrees.

For the filling:

  • In a medium skillet, sauté the garlic and mushrooms over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, until the mushrooms soften. Now add the spinach and stir until it wilts. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • In the food processor, add the drained tofu, almond milk, nutritional yeast, onion powder, turmeric and salt. Blend until very smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. Add the cooked vegetable mixture, and pulse a few times to combine, but don’t blend entirely.
  • Pour the filling into the crust and spread evenly using a spatula. Bake for about 35 minutes.
  • Cool for 15 minutes before slicing.

RECIPES, Soups

Matzo Ball Soup

*Makes 12 Balls

Ingredients for the Matzo Balls

1 cup matzo meal
1/4 cup chickpea flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup soya milk
1/4 cup canola oil

Ingredients for the Soup

1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 medium carrots, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
6 cups vegetable broth
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

To make the matzo balls, stir all dry ingredients together in a bowl. Stir in the milk and oil until thoroughly mixed.

Cover the bowl and chill the mixture for at least 30 minutes, while you begin the soup.

To make the soup, coat the bottom of a large pot with olive oil and place it over medium heat. Add the carrot and sauté for 5 minutes, until the carrots just begin to soften.

Add the garlic and continue to sauté for another minute.

Stir in the broth. Raise the heat and bring the broth to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer.

Shape the matzo mix into 1 inch balls, pressing the mixture firmly together. Carefully drop each ball into the soup right after forming it.

Allow the soup to cook, uncovered, at a low simmer, for 45 minutes. Do not stir.

When the soup is finished cooking, remove it from the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste. Carefully stir in the dill.

Ladle into bowls and serve.