Thursday, June 27, 2013

Green Jalapeño Sriracha

Sedona, AZ

Im just going to get right into this one, because I'm too busy constantly eating it.  On everything.  I will say  this.... it needs about 12 hours in the fridge to set before consuming.  Depending on the jalapeños, it is much hotter/spicier before setting.  It eventually becomes a bit milder (but not at all MILD), a thicker consistency, and way more flavor is built up, after some fridge time.  I'd put this up against store bought sriracha any day.  It is certainly as addictive, or more so.  Disclaimer: Spicy addicts! Consume at your own risk!

Green Jalapeño Sriracha
*For a milder sriracha, remove and discard jalapeño seeds before blending.

Green Jalapeño Sriracha
Makes about a cup of sriracha.
easy, gluten free, no bake, oil free, raw, soy free, vegan

8 jalepeno peppers, chopped (seeded- optional*)
3/4 tsp sea salt
1/8 cup rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
1 tsp tamari
1 1/2 tsp agave syrup
3 medjool dates, pitted and chopped.

Blend or process everything and scrape mixture into a glass jar.  Refrigerate 12 hours to set, before serving.  On everything.



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Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Coconut Mango Pie

Sedona, AZ

  I've been feeling so inspired lately.  Perhaps the beautiful landscape of our new city of residence, Sedona.  It offers great hiking, rock climbing, beautiful views for photographic inspiration.  What more can I ask for?  It feels like home.  
Sean and I on Devil's Bridge                               Sedona, AZ

  As you may know, I've been experimenting more and more with raw "cooking".  Eating fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts in their raw, natural state gives you tons of energy and vitality.   A little creativity and lots of experimenting, has allowed me to create many raw dishes and desserts,  that "seem baked".  Meet my latest, Coconut Mango Pie.  It's sweet, soft, ripe mango, mixed with walnuts and shredded coconut create a decadent pie filling, inside a nutty graham cracker-like crust.  It's very fast and easy to prepare, and so guilt-free that you can eat a pie for breakfast if you want!  

Coconut Mango Pie

Coconut Mango Pie
serves 2
raw, gluten free, vegan, no bake, easy, paleo

For the Crust:
1/2 cup golden flax seed meal
1 tbsp raw almonds, or almond butter
1/8 cup walnuts
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 large medjool dates, pitted

Process all ingredients in a food processor, until a dense crumby consistency.  Press into a small pie pan, or dish of choice.  Don't need to clean the processor yet, leave the leftover crumbs to mix in with the sauce.

For the sauce:
2 large medjool dates, pitted
1 tbsp coconut oil
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 tbsp water
juice of 1/4 of a lime

Process until smooth.

For the Filling:
3/4 cup ripe mango*, diced
1 tbsp shredded coconut
1/8 cup chopped walnuts

In a small bowl, add sauce to filling and stir to combine.  Spread mixture over the crust.  Sprinkle more shredded coconut on top.  Chill in the refrigerator at least 2 hours to set.   Serve cold.

*A mango is ripe when it has a little give, if you press on it with your finger.

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Monday, June 10, 2013

Delectable Sauces

Sedona, AZ

I've always kinda wanted to be a saucier.  Making and tasting different sauces all day.  Getting creative with different ingredients and my spice rack.  Trying interesting new flavor combinations.  Plus the title Saucier, sounds cool.  Now I enjoy taking it a step further, and include vegan substitutions, recreating old saucy favorites.  Both sauces below are gluten free, raw, oil free, soy free, and vegan.  Either can be heated, if you like, but it's definitely not necessary, which is nice on a summer day, when it's too hot to light up the stovetop burners or the oven.    Both sauces are very versatile and can simply be used as a salad dressing, a dip, a pasta sauce, or drizzled on a side vegetable.  Possibilities are endless.   Enjoy!

*Both recipes contain nuts.  For a creamier sauce, it is recommended that you soak the nuts in water for a few hours before preparing the recipe, or substitute nut butter for the nuts.

Raw Zucchini Fettucini with Parma Rosa Sauce


Parma Rosa Sauce
raw, vegan, gluten free, oil free, soy free, paleo
makes 4 servings

4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup water
2/3 cup raw unsalted cashews or cashew butter
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp fennel seed
1 tbsp fresh basil or 1/2 tsp dried basil
1/3 cup sundried tomatoes, chopped
2 tsp fresh parsley
2 large tomatoes, chopped small
salt and pepper to taste

Put all ingredients except tomatoes in a blender or food processor.  Blend/process until smooth.  Add tomatoes and pulse to combine.

This sauce is excellent on some raw zucchini fettucini.  If you don't have a fancy kitchen gadget, to cut the zucchini fettucini, you can use a regular old vegetable peeler.  That's how we roll, here in this RV kitchen.  (approx 1 large zucchini per person) Cut the ends off zucchini.  With a vegetable peeler, peel zucchini lengthwise into long thin strips.  With a knife, trim strips lengthwise into fettucini widths.  Do this right before serving, because they can get watery if they sit for awhile.



Pan Fried Yukon Gold Potatoes drizzled in Tarragon Garlic Cream Sauce
Tarragon Garlic Cream Sauce

raw, vegan, gluten free, oil free, soy free, paleo
makes 4 servings

4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup water
1/3 cup raw almonds or almond butter
1/3 cup nutritional yeast
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp fresh tarragon or 1/4 tsp dried tarragon
2 tsp fresh parsley
juice of half a lemon
salt & pepper to taste

Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor, blend until smooth.


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Saturday, June 1, 2013

"Pigs" in a Blanket

Matawan, NJ

I went to visit my family in NJ recently,  and whenever I do, I like to cook them all a big vegan feast.  It can be tricky sometimes to come up with something that everyone will like.  Especially children, in my case, because I like spices and bold flavors, most of my food is not the most kid friendly.  But my neice and nephews would be joining us in the feasting, and I wanted to make sure I made something they would like too.   So, I found a recipe for all natural vegan hotdogs made from....carrots.  Wait!  Stay with me now!  I know I know, it sounds absurd.  In fact, my brother, said something like, "If I knew you were going to serve me a carrot on a bun, I would have stopped at the hotdog stand on my way home."  But the carrots are cooked and marinated in a perfect hotdoggy seasoned combination, they are sure to please all hotdog lovers (including my brother) and children!  I altered the recipe slightly for some fun, I decided to go with my favorite hotdoggy party food, Pigs in a Blanket.  The blanket is made with my light flakey whole wheat biscuit recipe.  You need to try this!

vegan pigs in a blanket, biscuit blanket
Pigs In A Blanket

Prepare the hotdogs in advance.  You will need a few hours to marinate them.
For the original hotdog recipe click here.

*Instead of bun length carrots, use baby carrots, or peeled carrots cut into thirds.  I also substituted tamari for the coconut aminos.  I've made these before substituting the coconut aminos with soy sauce or Braggs liquid aminos.  They all work.  Use what you have.

For the Biscuit Blanket:
2 cups white whole wheat flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
6 tbsp vegetable shortening
3/4 cup water

Preheat oven 400º.
In a large bowl, mix and breifly knead biscuit ingredients.  Add more water if needed. On a floured surface, roll out dough to approx 1/4" thick.  cut rolled dough into 3 inch squares (baby carrot length).  Turn each square so a corner is on top & bottom, like a diamond.  Lay a baby carrot on each diamond, top corner to bottom corner.  Tuck the left corner over the carrot, under the right corner and press to seal.  Lay each one on a sprayed baking sheet.  Bake at 400º for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve with your favorite hotdog toppings.  I highly recommend some spicy yellow mustard!


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