Desserts, RECIPES

Tiramisu Verrines

*Makes 8 portions

Crust
2 cups of pecans
12 dates
1 tsp espresso coffee
2 tsp vanilla

Filling
1¾ cup raw cashews (not soaked)
1 tsp espresso coffee
1 cup soy milk


â…“ cup maple syrup
â…“ cup melted coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla
cacao powder for dusting

For the crust, add pecans to a processor and process until ground. Add the rest of the crust ingredients and process again.

For the filling, combine all of the ingredients in a high speed blender and blend until smooth.

Divide the base between small verrines, cups or jars and press with the back of a spoon to cover the bottom.
Add the filling on top of the crust. dust with cacao powder.

Refrigerate for at least 2 hours

Desserts, RECIPES

No Bake Date Squares

Ingredients:

Crust
1 1/2 cups raw almonds
1 1/2 regular oats
10 pitted & roughly chopped dates
1/4 cup melted coconut oil

Filling
25 pitted & roughly chopped dates
1/2 cup of water

Directions:

1. Line a 8 inch by 8 inch square pan with parchment paper. In a food processor, process the almond and oats until a fine crumble forms. Now add in the dates and process until crumbly again. Add melted coconut oil to the mixture and process until sticky. Remove from processor, set aside 3/4 of the mixture for later and press the rest of the mixture very firmly and evenly into the pan.

2. Grab your pitted and roughly chopped dates and water and process in a food processor until a paste forms. You will have to stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl often. You can add a tiny bit more water if needed, but you want the paste quite thick. Scoop out the date mixture onto the crust and spread evenly.

3. Sprinkle on top the 3/4 cup of mixture you set aside and press down. Refrigerate in the fridge until firm (At least 1 hour).

Cut into squares and serve.

Store in the fridge.

RECIPES

Make Your Own Chai Mix

I Love Chai tea, bake with Chai, add it to smoothies and overnight soaked oats. Store bought mixes cost quite a bit, therefore I make my own !!! this recipe is strong in flavour and has bite. I am certain you will enjoy it

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
  • 2 teaspoons ground allspice
  • 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
  • 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 6 teaspoons ground ginger

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Mix all ingredients together.

That simple !!!

Cristina for Peas and Peace

Desserts, RECIPES

Pecan Pie

Crust
2 cups spelt flour
6 tbsp coconut oil (solid)
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/3 cup cold water
Filling
1/2 cup vegan butter
2 cups pecans, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup pecan halves, for topping
1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp coconut sugar
1 cup pitted dates
3/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tbsp vanilla extract

Add spelt flour, coconut oil, salt and cinnamon to a food processor. Pulse until crumbly. Add cold water slowly and pulse to combine. Wrap up in cellophane and set aside to chill in the fridge. 
Add vegan butter and 2 tbsp coconut sugar to a pan and melt over a low heat. Add in chopped pecans and stir to coat well.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9 inch tart pan. Add dates, maple syrup, 1/4 cup of coconut sugar, cornstarch & vanilla extract to food processor and blend well to a smooth paste. Add this to the warm pan of pecans, stir well and simmer gently for 5 mins, until thick.

Roll out chilled pastry between baking paper the circumference of the tart dish and trim off the excess. Pour in pecan filling and top with the remaining pecan halves. Bake for 35 minutes. Allow to cool.
Chill in the fridge until ready to serve !!!

If you like you could top you slice of pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream !!!

Desserts, RECIPES

Brownies

For the base:
235g pitted dates
200g hazelnuts
100g walnuts
100g coconut butter
50g almond flour
50g cacao powder
2 tbsp coconut nectar
Put everything into a food processor until finely ground.


Line a 20 x 20 baking pan with baking paper and press the mixture evenly into the bottom. 


For the frosting:
150g maple syrup
120g coconut oil (melted)
80g cashew butter
50g cacao powder
Mix all ingredients and stir until smooth. Pour on top of the base and transfer to the fridge to set. When set cut into squares. 

Delicious !!!


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Mains, RECIPES

MEAT(LESS) LOAF

Ingredients:

2 tbsp of olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup of chopped walnuts
1 cup of rolled oats (or gluten free rolled oats)
1/2 cup of chopped mushrooms
2 cups of vegetable stock
2 chopped garlic cloves
3/4 cup of shredded carrots
3 tbsp of Dijon mustard
4 tbsp of tomate paste
2 tbsp of tamari sauce
350 grams/12 oz of firm tofu
2 tbsp of cornflour (cornstarch)
3/4 cup of breadcrumbs
1 cup of tomate sauce (coulis)
Oil spray

Instructions:

Heat the oven at 375 degrees and grease with oil spray a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan.

Heat half the oil in a large frying pan and cook the onion for about 15 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Heat the remaining oil in the pan and toast the walnuts during 3 minutes, add the oats and cook for another 3 minutes while stirring.

Add the mushrooms, vegetable stock and garlic, reduce the heat and simmer until the stock is absorbed.

Add the carrots, mustard, tomate paste, tamari and previously set aside onions.

Purée the tofu and cornflour in a food processor until smooth and stir into the oat mixture along with the breadcrumbs and mix well.

Transfer the mixture into the loaf pan and spread the tomate sauce on top.

Bake for 40 minutes and leave to stand for 20 minutes before slicing.

Enjoy !!!




Appetizers, RECIPES

VEGAN MINI QUICHES

Wish you were in my kitchen at the moment, smells heavenly. You will love this quiche recipe. Perfect for a cool autumn day.

*Makes 24 mini quiches

Ingredients

  • 540 grams tofu, drained
  • 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
  • 4 green onions, finely chopped
  • 3 mushrooms, finely chopped
  • 1 tomato, finely chopped
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 3/4 cup frozen spinach, finely chopped
  • Pinch of salt
  • Finely ground black pepper to taste
  • Olive oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C and prepare a 24 or 2 x 12 cup muffin tray by brushing with a little oil
  2. Place tofu, nutritional yeast and ground turmeric into a food processor and blend until the ingredients are creamy. Transfer to a large bowl.
  3. Add the vegetables, salt & pepper to the bowl and mix well.
  4. Scoop tofu vegetable mixture evenly between the 24 muffin cups.
  5. Bake for 30 minutes or so. Delicious !!!
  • Store in the fridge, where they’ll keep for 5 days.

Cristina for Peas &. Peace

Mains, RECIPES

PAELLA

*4 Portions

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 tsp saffron
  • 600ml vegetable stock
  • 3 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 vegan chorizo style sausage (preferably spicy)
  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 1 red pepper cut into thin strips
  • 6 cherry tomatoes cut in quarters
  • 1 tbsp tomato purée
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 200g rice
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1 lemon
  • Chili, salt & pepper if desired

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Place hot vegetable stock and saffron in a bowl and leave to infuse
  2. Heat a tbsp of oil in a large frying pan on medium heat. Cut the chorizo sausage into small chunks and fry for about 5 minutes until starting to brown on all sides
  3. Transfer the chorizo pieces into a bowl and save for later
  4. Pour remaining 2 tbsp of olive oil into the pan and add the onion. Fry for a few minutes and then add the crushed garlic and peppers
  5. After a few minutes add cherry tomatoes, tomato puree and smoked paprika, stir and leave to cook for a couple of minutes
  6. Next add the rice. Stir and once the rice is translucent on the edges add the saffron infused stock
  7. Let gently simmer for 10 minutes without stirring it. Stir once and leave for a further 10 minutes
  8. Add the frozen peas and sausage and stir
  9. Taste and check the rice is cooked, it should still have a bit of bite but be soft on the outside. Season with salt and pepper and chili flakes
  10. Squeeze juice from half the lemon and use the other half to decorate

Voila !!!

TRAVELS

Israeli Vegan Sushi ðŸŒ±

Art on a plate at Green Roll in Tel Aviv and delicious

Desserts, RECIPES

Maple Cupcakes with Maple Frosting !!!

  • Makes 6 cupcakes

Cupcake Ingredients

  • ½ cup of soya milk
  • ½ cup of maple syrup
  • â…“ cup of sunflower oil
  • 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1â…“ cups of spelt flour 
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda

Instructions 

preheat oven to 350ºF

Line 6 muffin cups (for large cupcakes) or 12 muffins cups (for small cupcakes) with paper liners

In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, maple syrup, oil, flax seeds, vanilla, and vinegar until well combined

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and baking soda

Pour the wet ingredients over the dry and whisk until combined; do not overmix

Using a large ice cream scoop, scoop the batter into the prepared muffin cups

Bake for 20 minutes, until a tester inserted in one of the center cupcakes comes out clean

Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting

Frosting Ingredients

  • 8 onces of plant based butter at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on low speed until syrup and sugar are well combine

Increase speed to high and beat until mixture is light and whipped. Should the consistance be too liquid, then keep adding icing sugar until desired texture

You are ready to frost your cupcakes !!!

*If you happen to have extra frosting it keeps in the refrigerator for a few days or better yet you can freeze it and it is good for 6 months, mine doesn’t last that long 🙂

Enjoy !!!

Cristina for Peas and Peace

RECIPES, Sauces

Vegan Pesto in 10 minutes !!!

Done in 10 minutes

Perfect for pastas, as a spread or a dressing. The only different ingredient from the traditional pesto is nutritional yeast instead of parmesan. healthier and tastier

Ingredients

  • 2 cups packed fresh basil (stems removed)
  • 3 Tbsp pine nuts
  • 4 Tbsp of nutritional yeast
  • 3 large cloves garlic 
  • 2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt 
  • 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

  1. In a food processor, add the basil, nuts, garlic, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and sea salt and mix on high until a loose but somewhat grainy paste forms.
  2. Add olive oil a little at a time (streaming in while the machine is on through the spout) and scrape down sides as needed.

Simple as that !

*Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 1 week. After that, pour into ice cube molds, freeze, and store up to 1 month or more.

Enjoy !

Cristina for Peas & Peace

Desserts, RECIPES

Chocolate-Almond Cookies

This is my go to recipe when I have nothing sweet in the house, have not soaked cashews overnight as many recipes require. This recipe literally takes 20 minutes to make, baking time included ! They are bite size, perfect with a coffee or tea in the afternoon when you need that little pause.

Ingredients: :

3/4 cup almonds 
5 pitted dates
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp almond butter
1/4 cup coconut sugar
1 flax egg (1 tbsp ground flax combined with 2 tbsp water)
Pinch sea salt
2 tbsp of cacao powder

Preheat the oven to 350 F
In a food processor, process the almonds into a fine meal. Add the dates, maple syrup, Salmond butter, coconut sugar, flax egg, sea salt and cacao powder. Process until well combined.
Shape into balls with a scooper (I used a 1 inch but you can certainly make them bigger and use a 1 1/2 inch scooper). Flatten with damp hands. Place onto a lined baking sheet and top with a slivered almond or topping of your choice . Place in the oven to bake for 10 minutes or 15 minutes if you used the larger scooper. They are sooo moisty & yummy !

Enjoy!

Cristina for

Peas & Peace

Condiments, RECIPES

PICKLING RED ONIONS !

Love pickled red onions on my salads, végé burgers and bowls as a topping

Combine apple cider vinegar in a bowl, you can sweeten with sugar and salt if you wish by simply adding to your pickling liquid. Whisk sugar & salt together until fully dissolved. Place sliced red onions in a Mason jar. Pour vinegar mixture over the red onions and let sit at room temperature for 1 hour.

*The reason I dont add sugar to the pickling is that the red onion already contains sugar and is sweet tasting

After 1 hour, store the pickled red onions in the refrigerator , keeps for up to 2 weeks.

Nutritional Value:

One cup of onions contains 15 grams of carbohydrate, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of cholesterol, 3 grams of fiber, 7 grams of sugar, 2 grams of protein, and 10 percent or more of the daily value for vitamin C, vitamin B-6, and manganese.

Onions also contain small amounts of calcium, iron, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium, and the antioxidants quercetin and sulfur.

* Source for nutrition value: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

Cristina for

Peas & Peace

Mains, RECIPES

Crispy Seitan Asian Style

I love Seitan!, although not easy to find, there is a lovely couple, Caroline & Laurent from @L’ISSUE that make Vegan charcuteries (They have a Facebook page should you want their coordinates). I happen to prefer their products to others, in part for the quality of their ingredients. Their products are sold at IGA’s in St-Jérôme, Prévost, St-Sauveur, Ste-Agathe, Sainte-Adèle, Mont-Tremblant, and Bourassa in St-Sauveur, Ste-Agathe, Mirabel, BioSatva, Les Petits oignons & L’étalage. For the above recipe I used their LE COSTAUD DES LAURENTIDES.

Ingredients:
400 grams of Seitan, sliced into thin strips
Cornstarch
Sesame oil

Sauce:
2 tbsp sesame oil
1/2 cup of Tamari
1/2 cup of water
3 tsp of grated ginger
3 minced garlic cloves
1/2 cup of coconut sugar

To make the sauce, add all the ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to a boil, whisk until everything is combined and coconut sugar has entirely dissolved. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, until it reduces slightly. Set aside.

Pour some cornstarch in a bowl and coat each slice of Seitan shaking off the excess.

Heat the oil in a skillet on medium-high and brown the Seitan on each side. Add the sauce to the Seitan. Cook until the sauce has reduced and coated the Seitan.

You now have made delicious crispe Seitan Asian style !

You can serve in a bowl with rice or other, veggies and top with green onions, sesame seeds, I added a little picked onions that I had made the previous day and pumpkin seeds.

Enjoy !

Cristina for Peas and Peace

Desserts, RECIPES

Raw Chocolate Chip Cookies

Perfect when hosting or perfect as a gift when invited to someone’s home !

*Makes 12 cookies

1 cup oat flour (or gluten free oat flour)

1 cup ground cashews (grind cashews by pulsing them in a high speed blender until fine)

4  tbsp coconut oil (melted)

1 tsp  vanilla extract

1 tsp pink Himalayan salt

1/2 cup maple syrup

3 tbsp of chocolate chips + 12 for topping

1. In a large mixing bowl mix together oat flour and ground cashews 

2. Next add coconut oil + vanilla extract + Himalayan salt + maple syrup.

3. Combine these into a dough and add chocolate chips.

4. Mix and form into 12 equal size balls (I used a 1 1/2 inch scooper), then flatten and shape into cookies.

5. Set a chocolate chip on each cookie.

6.  Put them on a tray or plate and into the refrigerator to set for at least two hours.

6. Keeps in the fridge  max 7 days or freeze 

Enjoy !!!

Cristina for Peas and Peace