Enjoy gardening, enjoy the outdoors, summer is short !
Cristina for Peas & Peace
Tag: HealthyLifestyle
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
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
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.
Ingredients
- 6 tsp olive oilÂ
- 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
- Â zest of 1/2 of a lemonÂ
- 1 tsp of rosemary
- 1 tsp of thyme
- 1 tsp miso paste
- 2 tsp stoneground mustardÂ
- 4 cups of soya milk at room tempÂ
- 4Â 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
Lemon & Poppyseed Muffins made with Aquafaba
What in the world is Aquafaba ? it is the viscous water in which chickpeas have been cooked in. Due to its ability to mimic functional properties of egg whites in cooking, aquafaba can be used as a direct replacement for them in muffins and other baked goods. You can freeze the excedent aquafa for other recipes.
Ingredients
- 2 and 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp poppy seeds
- 2 and 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/3 cup aquafaba
- 1/3 cup canola
- 3/4 cup granulated organic sugar
- 1 cup soya milk
- 1 and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 tsp teaspoon pure lemon extract
- 1 tbsp lemon zest (approximately 2 lemons)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a 12-well regular-size muffin tin with paper cups or spray the wells with oil.
- Combine the flour, poppy seeds, baking powder in a bowl. Mix well and set aside.
- Take a separate medium bowl, add the aquafaba and, using a large whisk, whisk it until it is frothy, about 3 minutes. Add the oil slowly while whisking to emulsify. Add the sugar in the same way. Add the milk, vanilla, lemon extract, and zest and whisk well.
- Add the flour mixture to the milk mixture and, using a wooden spoon, mix the batter until almost no more flour is visible. Lumps are fine; do not overmix.
- Fill the wells about three-quarters full with the batter. Bake the muffins until a toothpick inserted into the muffin in the middle well comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Cool the muffins on a cooling rack for 15 minutes before removing them from the tin. Cool the muffins completely before storing in airtight containers, where they will keep for a few days.
!
Enjoy
Cristina for Peas and Peace
Homemade Chocolates
These are great as a gift or simply as a treat for yourself or your family
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped cocoa butter
- 5 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch sea salt
- Rose petals & corse sea salt for topping
Instructions
- Add water to a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Then set a medium glass or metal mixing bowl on top, making sure it’s not touching the water (this creates a “double boiler/bain Marie”).
- To the mixing bowl, add cocoa butter and let melt.
- Once melted, add the maple syrup and use a whisk to mix until fluid and thoroughly combined. Remove bowl from top of the saucepan and set aside.
- Add cocoa powder, vanilla, and sea salt to the bowl, and whisk to combine until there are no clumps.
- Pour chocolate into 14 mini (I used mini quiche molds) but you may also use chocolate molds or other. Top the chocolates with rose petals and corse sea salt or any topping of your choice, get creative !
- Transfer chocolate to the freezer to set for 10 minutes. Enjoy !
- Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 1 week, or in the freezer up to 1 month.
Made with Love
Peas and Peace
Chocolate Orange Soufflé
Serves 4
Ingredients
2 cups of oat flourÂ
300ml soya milkÂ
3 tbsp ground flax Â
3 tbsp cocoa powderÂ
1 1/2 tsp baking powderÂ
3 mashed bananas
3 tsp orange zest
3 tbsp orange juice â €
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Mix all the ingredients together. I used 3 inch ramequins. Bake at 360F for about 20 minutes. Let cool down and enjoy
*I inserted a chocolate square on top, entirely up to you or you may just sprinkle the top with powdered sugar, orange zest is pretty as well, whatever inspires you !
Enjoy !
No Knead, Kalamata Olive, Sun Dried Tomates and Rosemary Focaccia
7 cups all-purpose whole wheat flour
1 tbsp coarse sea salt for sprinkling
1 tsp active dry yeast
3 1/2 cups warm water
1 tbsp agave
1/3 cup olive oil *
1 small red onion , thinly sliced
1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes , chopped
1/3 cup Kalamata pitted olives , chopped *
2 fresh rosemary sprigs
& some chili flakes
Use good quality olives and olive oil it makes a big difference in flavour, I used Barakaris olives and olive oil from Mouton Vert located in Montreal
1. In a large mixing bowl combine flour and yeast. In a small bowl combine warm water and agave to dissolve. Then pour liquid over the flour mixture. Stir to combine until you have a sticky dough.
2. In another large mixing bowl add 1/4 cup olive oil only, and transfer dough to the bowl. Roll the dough to coat in the olive oil. Cover the bowl tightly, and transfer to the fridge overnight. (Make sure the bowl is big enough for dough to double in size).
3. Remove dough from fridge and line a 17 x 12 inch baking tray lined with parchment paper. Transfer dough onto tray. Push dough out with hands as best you can to cover tray entirely. Wait 1 hour for the dough to come to room temperature. It should soften and rise considerably.
4. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Pat focaccia dough again to ensure it is the same thickness throughout on the pan (about 1-inch thick). Then dimple the entire dough by pushing your fingers into the dough. Drizzle with more olive oil and sprinkle with the coarse salt.
5. Decorate with thinly sliced red onion, sun-dried tomatoes, olives and rosemary & chili flakes. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Fluffy and tasty !
Cristina for Peas and Peace
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
Leek & Potato Soup
Ingredients
- 4 medium-sized chopped leeks
- 2 lbs potatoes, peeled and diced
- 4 1/2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- salt & black pepper
- chives, chopped *optional
Instructions
- In a large pot on medium heat add oil, then saute garlic, leeks, and onion together with salt until soft – about 5 minutes.
- Add potatoes, vegetable broth, salt & pepper to pot – cover and let simmer for about 15 minutes. Potatoes should be soft when tested with a fork.
- Use a hand-blender to blend soup on medium to high until ingredients are smooth and consistency is creamy.
- Season soup to taste with salt & a good amount of black pepper. Serve with chopped chives and black pepper – enjoy
Tip
Freezing potato and leek soup: Allow soup to come to room temperature, store in a sealed container and place in freezer for 1 to 3 months. Remove, defrost, and cook in pot until desired temperature
Serve with warm crusty bread !!!
Cristina for Peas and Peace
No Bake Carrot & Coconut Energy Balls
Loaded with natural sugar, healthy fats and fiber to satisfy your cravings
Makes 12 balls
* 1 medium gratted carrot
* 1/2 cup (125ml) rolled oats
* 1/2 cup (125ml) almonds
* 1/4 cup (60ml) hazelnuts
* 1 tbsp chia seeds
* 1/4 cup (60ml) almond milk
* 1/6 cup (40ml) pitted dates
* 1 tbsp coconut oil (not melted)
* 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon
* 2 tbsp shredded coconut (I used unsweetened but if you prefer a sweeter energy ball, use sweeetened)
Blend everything (except for the shredded coconut) in a food processor until dough is formed. Shape with your hands into bite size balls and then roll in the shredded coconut.
Keep refrigerated for 1 hour.
Stores in the fridge up to 1 week.
Enjoy !
Peas & Peace
Follow your dreams !!!
I am 57 years old, and I am here to dispel the notion that being a certain age restricts you in terms of the activities you can do. I am a firm believer in the notion that age is but a number, it is all in how you feel on the inside. I would like to illustrate this via my love of ballet.
From a young age, I have been fascinated with the dance world, and the innovative ways in which it marries music, movement, and expression. I Took ballet classes in my teens, but life caught up with me, and I eventually resorted to simply spectating at performances here and there, nothing more. However, as time went on, I could no longer fight the urge to revisit it for myself. There was one small thing holding me back in my mind. If I were to go back, and start from the beginning, I would be placed in a class with young children, and would need to keep up with them, and the fear of old knee and other injuries flaring as well. Still, despite all of these apparent concerns, something compelled me to enroll myself.
This is a photo of me at my midterm recital, as you can attest, my fifth positon is not perfect and I need to work on and improve many movements and steps. Regardless, I made it! I attend two hour classes twice a week and can keep up with my much much younger class mates. My passion for the art of ballet inspired me to push my limits, stay fit, practice the sequences, and better myself with each and every class.
Somewhere, I am hoping that I could maybe also be an inspiration to a parent or grand parent, anyone really to follow their passion or dream. This goes to show that no matter how old you are, you can do anything you set your mind to, it’s never too late! If there’s something you’ve always wanted to do, find out the necessary steps, and work towards your goal.
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.
No Bake, Double Chocolate & Peanut Butter Treats
INGREDIENTS
- 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
- 5 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp melted coconut oil
- 1/4 cup oat flour
- 1/4 cup cacao powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch sea salt
- 1/4 cup vegan chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup cacao nibs
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a bowl, whisk the peanut butter, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract and sea salt together until fully combined.
- Stir in the cocoa powder and oat flour until a thick mixture forms.
- Mix in the chocolate chips and cacao nibs.
- With a medium size scooper (*Makes 12), form round shapes and place on a lined tray. Sprinkle on some cacao nibs and more chocolate chips (optional) and place in the freezer for 30 minutes until set.
- Store in the fridge and enjoy !
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.
Peas & Peace TM 