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!


Pin it! 

Like RVegan on Facebook!

Monday, May 6, 2013

Sean's Ultimate PB&J


Sean makes me this almost every day, and he cuts mine in half on a diagonal, because that's what makes me smile.  He's a keeper!  This is the very best PB&J I ever did eat.  Enjoy!

Sean's Ultimate PB&J


Sean's Ultimate PB&J

2 slices of Ezekial bread
1 large strawberry, sliced
1/2 tbsp all natural peanut butter
1 tsp golden flax meal
1 tbsp almond butter
1 tbsp all natural organic strawberry jelly


Pin it! 

Like RVegan on Facebook!

Friday, May 3, 2013

Polenta Croutons

Sky Valley, CA

I weighed in at 98.9 pounds this morning.  It's not a sickly skinny for me, I'm only 5'1".  For my height, I should be between 95-100 lbs.  Although, this country generally seems to have a very misguided view on ideal body weights.   Dr Joel Fuhrman,  a nutritionist and author of the book Eat To Live has great plant based food diet advice, and realistic ideal weight goals that have worked for thousands of people struggling with their weight. To determine your weight goal, he suggests: 

Women: Approximately ninety five pounds for the first 5 feet of height and then 4 pounds for every inch thereafter

5'4" 95 + 16=111
5'6" 95 + 24=119

Men: Approximately 105 pounds for the first 5 feet of height and then 5 pounds for every inch thereafter.  Therefore a 5'10" male should weigh approximately 155 pounds.  

Why am I telling you this?  My concerns are not about weight, but about personal health.  Turns out, when you are healthy, you are your ideal body weight!  Weight is not hereditary.  It has nothing to do with your race or ethnicity.  It is what you eat.  It is so important to me to inform people of the importance of whole foods, plant based nutrition.  You don't have to be struggling with weight at all, in order to do yourself the favor of getting enough nutrients every day.  The more you commit to it, the more you benefit.  You prevent disease and you look and feel your best.  Why does this happen?  Because this is how we are supposed to eat!  We are still animals.  Living things.  We are not supposed to eat preservatives.  We are not supposed to eat microwaved dead food.  We are not supposed to drink isolated protein shakes.  We are not supposed to drink sugar, aspartame, whatever the hell Red Bull is, or the milk of other mammals.  We are not supposed to eat highly refined nutrient void, well, anything!  Your food should not make you sick.  Or fat.  Yet these items are what stock the shelves of every grocery store.  That IS what you're eating.  

Changing your eating habits can be quite a pleasure.  You may not think so, because you are probably addicted to food that will eventually make you sick, give you high cholesterol, make you gain excessive weight, give you heart disease, and other health problems.  Wait until you see the difference in how you feel after you detoxify your body with whole plant foods!  Are you thinking... I can never live without eating _______!? (fill in the blank)  Well if that's the case, maybe you should challenge yourself.  Read Eat to Live and follow his meal plan as a guide.   Or.... just make a real changes on your own.  Fill up on plants, beans, whole grains, legumes.  Read labels.  Take out out EVERYTHING in your pantry/fridge that has ingredients that you can't picture in your mind.  Take out EVERYTHING that contains preservatives, additives, refined sugars, aspartame, all that crap.  Look at it all.  Is it a big pile?  If it is, it's time to make a change.  Throw it away.  Don't buy it anymore.  Sound extreme?  It's the best thing you'll ever do for the health of yourself and your family.  

Mixed greens with lentils and polenta croutons

You can still find pleasure in what you eat, once you do away with those addictions you may have to salt, sugar, oils, and refined foods.  Once you break that awful habit that almost all Americans struggle with,  your tastes will change and you will find that things that make you feel better, taste better.  What a great thing!  Convenient too!  Now your grocery bill drops significantly because you aren't buying all that pre-packaged junk.  You are free to indulge in new, exciting, all natural whole foods.  What's holding you back?  Speaking of indulgence.... Polenta croutons are vegan, gluten free, and oil free.  They taste amazing on a salad with lentils and arugula, and are delectable on top of a veggie chili!


Polenta Croutons
Polenta Croutons
vegan, gluten free, oil free

1/2 cup polenta or grits (I highly recommend only buying organic corn products)
1 tbsp soy sauce or liquid aminos
1/8 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups water
1/8 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp nutritional yeast separated into 1 tbsp & 1 tbsp
fresh ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400º.
In a large pan, add all except pepper and half the nutritional yeast.   Over medium heat, sauté about 10-15 minutes, until mixture becomes very thick.  Remove from heat.
Transfer mixture onto parchment paper, spreading it until it's approximately 1/2 inch thick.
Deeply score  mixture with a knife into 1/2 inch cubes.
Sprinkle with remaining nutritional yeast and black pepper.
Let sit 5 minutes.
Bake scored polenta at 400º 20-25 minutes.
Let cool completely before removing into squares.


Pin it! 

Like RVegan on Facebook!


Wednesday, April 17, 2013

RV Sushi

I've been experimenting with raw dishes lately.  It feels right to me to eat at least 60% raw with each meal.   This gives me the most energy, while I can still enjoy cooked food from time to time.  I also have noticed that raw food aids digestion, makes your skin glow, and makes you feel great!  I have been making lots of dishes into salads, as I've done here for the photo of my RV sushi.  Raw greens are becoming the main dish, while the experimental cooking is becoming the side dish.  I am also really excited to start making homemade sushi.  I crave sushi often, just never realized how easy it is to do at home!  You don't need a sushi mat or much technique.  Just imagination and a sharp knife.  Enjoy!


rv sushi, homemade sushi, mango sushi, avocado sushi, carrot sushi, beet sushi, quinoa sushi
RV Sushi


RV Sushi
makes 4 rolls (24 pieces)
vegan, raw option*, gluten free, soy free, dairy free

4 raw nori sheets
1/2 a beet, julienned
1 carrot, julienned
1/2 an avocado, cut into small strips
1/4 of a mango, peeled and julienned
1/2 cup cooked rice or quinoa (*raw option- use sprouts or raw ground cashews or sunflower seeds)

Arrange nori so the short side is facing you.  Spread ingredients equally among 4 nori sheets.  Moisten nori (especially the top edge) and tightly roll upward.  Seal the top edge with using a little water.  Cut with a very sharp knife into 6 pieces per nori sheet.  Serve with wasabi, ginger, and soy sauce/tamari for dipping.

Pin it! 

Like RVegan on Facebook


Saturday, April 13, 2013

The Cloak & Dagger

Time for a new cocktail!  Sean whipped this one up the other day.  I usually don't stray from beer or wine, but this has beets!   It's bubbly and sweet, but not too sweet, and so delicious.  The virgin version sans rum is also amazing!



The Cloak and Dagger
makes 4 servings

1 cup chopped red beets
juice of 1 lime
1-2 tbsp agave nectar, maple sugar, or coconut sugar
4 shots rum
24 oz club soda or seltzer

In a blender, blend all but the soda.  Pour into 2 glasses, add 6 oz soda to each glass.


Like RVegan on Facebook

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Taco Salad

Sky Valley, CA

Happy Spring!
Lately Sean & I have been very physically active outdoors every day of the week.  We run around at our jobs, out in the hot desert sun for 6-8 hours a day.  On our days off we are either rock climbing for several hours out in Joshua Tree National Park, trail-running, or hiking.  At night or during bad weather, we cook and create basically a meal plan for ourselves in the RV.   It's non-stop and it's wonderful.  Of course, it requires a nutritious and balanced diet (and mad Tetris skills, to fit all of our fresh produce in this tiny RV fridge!).   In the past few weeks, we have been making some mindful changes in food choices.  Lots of experimenting with how different foods affect our energy levels, pre and post workouts, what fuels us for increased endurance, and what aids in our recovery.  I've been doing quite a bit of reading and research on what foods are best for different levels of activity.  From this, I have come up with a plant-based food pyramid to use as a guide for meals.



Taco Salad

We try to adhere to a food pyramid ratio with each meal, or at least overall daily intake.
Our plant-based food pyramid goes something like this:


OILS/ FATS

NUTS /  FRESH BREADS

FRUITS/ BEANS/ SEEDS/ LEGUMES

STARCHY VEGETABLES/ WHOLE GRAINS

MOSTLY RAW GREEN LEAFY FIBROUS VEGETABLES



Taco Salad

I didn't include measurements here, but use the food pyramid as a guide.  In order of quantity:
Green leaf lettuce, kale, spinach, green cabbage, brown rice, corn, black beans, kidney beans, tomato, mango, avocado, blue corn tortilla chips.

Dressing
Juice of 1 lime, 1 tbsp miso, 1/2 tsp fresh cilantro, 1 tbsp grated mango, 1/8 tsp garlic powder, 1 cup water, 1 tbsp nutritional yeast, 1/8 tsp cumin - Stir until miso is dissolved

Pin it! 

Like RVegan on Facebook

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Slow-Cooker Split Pea Soup with Garlic Croutons


Palm Springs, CA

If your looking for a great soup that you can prepare in no time, and let your slow-cooker do all the work, try this wholesome flavorful dish.  Put it all together in the morning, go outside, get a nice hike in or a run.  Get your errands done, do some grocery shopping, take your kids to the park, or go to work.  Come home to a dinner that is ready for you.  That is what I call multi tasking!  Top with garlic croutons and crispy smokey coconut bacon!


gluten free split pea, egg free split pea, meat free split pea, crock pot split pea, oil free split pea


Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
vegan, gluten free, oil free
serves 4
prep time: 10 minutes, cook time 6- 8 hrs

1 cup split peas
4 ½ cups water or vegetable broth
1/8 cup liquid aminos (only if using water)
¼ tsp pepper
¼ tsp celery seed, or 2 stalks celery, sliced
½ tsp marjoram
½ tsp onion powder
¾ cup yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
¼ tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp liquid smoke

Put all ingredients except liquid smoke in slow cooker.  Cook 6-8 hours on low.  Add liquid smoke before serving.  Add garlic croutons and serve immediately.

Garlic Croutons
2 slices of thick cut bread
1-2 tbsp olive oil
¼ tsp garlic powder
salt & pepper

Let slices of bread dry out on a paper towel for about a ½ hour (or use day old bread, bread going stale).  Cut bread into 1inch squares.
Drizzle each square with olive oil, and sprinkle garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Toast in oven or toaster oven, turning once until crispy and golden brown.  You can also opt to pan fry them over med-high heat until crispy and golden brown.

Coconut Bacon (makes another wonderful soup topping)
Easy, Gluten Free, Kid Friendly, Salads, Toppings, Vegan, Oil free*

1 cup unsweetened coconut (flakes or shredded)
1/8 cup tamari
1 tbsp maple sugar or 100% real maple syrup
1 tbsp liquid smoke

Preheat oven to 300º.  In a bowl, stir well to combine all ingredients.  Spread into a thin layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake 10-20 minutes, stirring it up every 5 minutes or so, until dry and crispy.  Allow to cool.

*You can also make this in a nonstick pan over medium heat, instead of the oven.  It may take a little dash of olive oil to get it crispy.  Sauté about 10 minutes, stirring often.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Raw Super Pesto



"Let food be thy medicine & let medicine be thy food" -Hippocrates



Obviously nobody enjoys getting sick.  You know by now I'm a firm believer in using food as preventative medicine.  If I get sick, which is very rare, it lasts about 1 day and it's over.  A plant based diet is the absolute best way to boost your immune system.

This is a delicious way to prevent or battle a cold or worse.  The superfood antioxidants and vitamins in kale, spinach, garlic, and lemon work together with the probiotic active cultures and nutrients in miso and nutritional yeast.  I guarantee your cold doesn't stand a chance.  Consider it like a tasty edible flu shot!

Try this pesto mixed into a bowl of cooked brown rice, spread on crostini, or tossed with some cooked squash or sweet potato.  It balances great with a sweeter cooked vegetable or grain. The possibilties are endless, and the flavor is excellent.

vegan pesto, raw pesto, gluten free pesto, spinach pesto, kale pesto, oil free pesto
Raw Super Pesto with Crostini


Raw Super Pesto
makes 2 cups, ready in less than 10 minutes
vegan, oil free, gluten free, raw

- juice of 1 lemon
- 3 cloves garlic, grated
- 1½ Tbsp miso (I use red miso)
- 3-4 leaves kale, de-veined
- handful of fresh spinach
-¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/8  tsp black pepper
- 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast

Process all ingredients in a food processor or blender.

If you don't have a processor or blender: Mix the lemon juice and miso together first until smooth.  Make sure the garlic is grated on the smallest size grater like a zester or a hard cheese grater.   Hand mince the greens very fine and stir to combine.


*If you're battling an illness that happens to include nausea, add about an inch of fresh grated ginger to the list of ingredients.  This will help settle your stomach.  I recommend mixing with cooked rice afterwards.

Pin it! 

Like RVegan on Facebook!

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Sesame Peanut Noodles


Desert Hot Springs, CA

Sesame Peanut Noodles


I stopped using a microwave maybe 15 years ago.  I actually use my RV microwave as a storage cabinet.  I'll take extra storage over soft, soggy vegetables any day!  The more alive/raw your food is (I'm talking about plants here), in it's most natural state, the better tasting and better for you it is.  Cooking your veggies in a microwave kills all of their nutritional value as well as flavor.  That goes for boiling your vegetables as too, with some exceptions, such as potatoes.  I don't care what the package says!  If they can be eaten raw, they don't need to be boiled or nuked.  

Here's a few tips on cooking (not over-cooking) the best tasting and most nutritious veggies:

For leafy greens, such as spinach or kale:  Start fresh.  Avoid buying frozen greens, if you can.  If you don't want to eat them raw, cook only until they just wilt.  Sometimes this means less than a minute.   If they're going in a soup, you might want to even put a handful of them raw, in the bowl.  Ladle the cooked soup over them.  Stir until they wilt.  

For delicious raw kale:  Remove the vein and massage the leafy part until it's softer and appears darker and  somewhat wilted.  This takes away the bitterness.

For asparagus, brussel sprouts, carrots, broccoli, green beans:  Again if not eating raw, sauté or roast in the oven, but test for doneness when they still have they're most vibrant color.  If the vegetables pale, they are over-cooked.  Never boil.

For all veggies:   Don't be afraid to season!  A little salt, pepper, and garlic powder is my favorite combination, for most vegetable dishes.


This is a very fast and easy dish that is a staple for us.  Because it is served cold, it is a great dish to take to work or on the go, for lunch.  Combining raw and cooked ingredients, it is an excellent balance of flavors and raw nutrients for your body.  

gluten free, vegan, oil free, cold noodles with sesame peanut sauce, tips on cooking vegetables, raw vegetables
Sesame Peanut Noodles are great to take on the go, because they are served cold.


Sesame Peanut Noodles
makes 4 servings
(vegan, *gluten free variation, oil free)

1 lb spaghetti or *rice noodles (for gluten free)
½ cup natural peanut butter (no additives)
¼ cup water
2 tbsp brown rice vinegar
juice & zest of ½ a lime
1/8 cup onion, chopped or 2 scallions, chopped
1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled & grated
1 tbsp sriracha sauce
1 tbsp unrefined sugar
¼ tsp red pepper flakes
½ cup peanuts
½ of a cucumber, cut in 2" long strips
1 carrot, julienned
1 tbsp sesame seeds

For the sauce:
In a food processor, process peanut butter, liquid aminos, water, vinegar, lime juice and zest, onion, ginger, sriracha, sugar, and red pepper flakes.

Cook noodles according to package instructions.  Once tender, drain and rinse with cold water until completely cool.  Toss with sauce until fully coated.  Garnish with carrot, cucumber, sesame seeds, and peanuts.  Serve cold.

If you don't want the extra kick from the sriracha sauce,  replace sriracha with another tbsp unrefined sugar.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Hot Sauce & Bloody Marys


Desert Hot Springs, CA


At this point I think we all know how much I love spicy food.  For some reason my stomach can't handle a mild pepper at all.  I eat one bite of an innocent little bell pepper and I'm doubled over in pain for hours (some kind of sick joke being played on me?).  But if the pepper is so hot it makes you tear up or better yet, go numb, my body can handle it, no problem.  What's up with that?  Remind me, because I do have a recipe for a stuffed bell pepper that is so good it's worth it to me to be in severe pain….sweet delicious pain.

In the meantime I shouldn't deny you my homemade fresh hot sauce recipe,  which I put in oh, just about everything.  I want you to embrace the spicy in yourself.   You can handle it.  I believe in you.  Aaaand as an extra bonus, I also should not deny you the recipe for my favorite homemade spicy cocktail, because you've worked so hard on learning to love the spicy heat.  You deserve it.  

RV Hot Sauce
(oil free, vegan, gluten free, soy free *raw variation)

1½ cups distilled white vinegar
7-10 jalepeno peppers, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tbsp ground cayenne pepper 
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 tsp salt

Process until pureed.  Store in the refrigerator in a jar with lid up to 4-6 weeks. 

*For a completely raw hot sauce, replace vinegar with raw apple cider vinegar, and use fresh cayenne.

oil free hot sauce, vegan bloody mary, gluten free hot sauce, soy free hot sauce, raw hot sauce, vagan hot sauce


RV Bloody Mary
(oil free, vegan) makes 1 16 oz. cocktail

16 oz. glass of ice
1 shot vodka
dash black pepper
dash ground chipotle pepper
1 tbsp RV Hot Sauce
dash celery seed, or celery for garnish
½ tsp vegan worcestershire sauce
1 tsp liquid aminos (omit if using a high sodium tomato juice)
1" wedge of lime juice, another for garnish
fill the rest of the glass with tomato juice

Stir and garnish with whatever you please!
Garnish ideas include: wedge of lime/lemon, olives, celery, strip of cucumber, caper berry, or all of the above.
Enjoy!

* For those of you who want the bloody mary without the heat (I admit, I'm slightly disappointed...but I guess you must have tried), definitely omit the chipotle powder and ease up on the hot sauce.  


Thursday, January 17, 2013

Jerk Pineapple Pasta


Desert Hot Springs, CA

Ah, Southern California Desert.  This is a great spot for winter RVing.  There are palm trees, mountains, and warm days.  The Coachella Valley  has lots of RV parks to chose from, and endless hotels and resorts for the winter vacationer without an RV.  Of course, it is directly on the San Andreas Fault which is scary, buuuut nobody's perfect.  Sean and I decided to stop here to try and find some work at one of the resorts.  The season is just getting started here, so we're hoping it will be an easy transition.  We also have Joshua Tree National Park nearby which is a rock climber's paradise, so we will have lots of fun while we're not working.  

While we are looking for work and getting to know the new neighborhood, I have also been busy trying new things like sprouting grains like wheatgrass, and making homemade probiotics like rejuvelac.  I don't usually have much of a green thumb, but I always like to try something new.  Besides, sprouting a seed is alot easier than keeping that bad boy alive for  an extended period of time!  I took a big gulp of the rejuvelac this morning and I had an immediate incredible burst of energy.  This energized feeling lasted the whole day and evening.  It's absolutely amazing.  I will get into this more after I do a little more research about it.  It's still new to me, and I don't want to misinform anyone.  But as of now, I feel great from drinking it, and I'm thinking of continuing to make it regularly. 

Another thing I notice in this part of California, is the abundance of citrus trees here. It seems that everyone has their own citrus tree in their yard and it is in season here right now!  It's really quite beautiful.  It makes me want to eat something tropical.  The other day I happened to find a great looking organic pineapple and... I was inspired.  

This recipe is for those who are not afraid of some spicy heat!  The jerk sauce also makes a great marinade for tofu or seitan and can easily be applied in other dishes.  


vegan jerk sauce, vegan jamaican jerk, jamaican jerk pasta, jamaican jerk linguini
Jerk Pineapple Pasta


Jerk Pineapple Pasta
serves 4  
vegan, oil free, gluten free variation*
For the jerk sauce:
1 scotch bonnet (habenero) or jalepeno pepper, minced
½ cup ketchup
4 green onion, sliced thin on a diagonal
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
1 tsp thyme
juice of 1 lime
juice of 1 lemon
½ cup pineapple juice
1 tbsp ground allspice
2 tbsp soy sauce or liquid aminos
2 tbsp natural, unrefined sugar
3 cloves of garlic, grated

whisk it all together or process in a food processor

For the pasta:
1 lb  linguini
1 yellow onion (small), chopped
2 cups cauliflower, chopped
1 ½ cup or 15 oz can- navy beans
½ cup mushrooms, chopped
1 cup pineapple, chopped

In a large pot, start boiling water for the pasta.  

While waiting for water to boil, in a large frying pan add cauliflower, onion, and ½ the jerk sauce over medium high heat.  

When water boils add pasta and cook until al dente.  

Once pasta is added, add remaining ingredients to frying pan as well as second half of the jerk sauce.  Turn the heat up to high.

When pasta is done, strain and put back in the large pot.  Stir in the veggies and jerk sauce mixture.  Serve hot.

*For a  gluten free version, use rice noodles, rice, or quinoa instead of the pasta, and liquid aminos instead of soy sauce.

Pin it! 

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Black Bean Salsa

Phoenix, AZ

And just like that I'm back in Phoenix, AZ with my beloved Pioneer.  It's been 2 months without it and I'm so happy to be back.  I know I know full-time RVing is associated with the retired, the seniors, the old man with a passion for barbecuing and maybe his wife and all her little dogs, and love of games like bridge and Mah-Jongg.  Maybe not so much the active, still working, rock climber, vegetable loving couple in their 30's.  But you know, Sean and I really never once dreamed of a house and a picket fence.  We never felt comfortable in one place, where we could settle down.  We don't care if we ever have a career, in fact, we prefer not to.  An ideal situation for us is to work seasonally, live simply, and travel often.  Play outside, see beautiful places. Eat tasty things. " A glass of wine, a crust of bread, and a view.  What more could you ask for?"  (Anthony Bordain said that.)  I couldn't agree more.

Well we are living our dream right now.  Back out west where the sky is so blue it's almost purple, and the  humidity is a distant memory.  It is no longer a battle between my hair, and the moisture in the air!  My hair has yet to win that battle.  I can't wait to find out what is next for us!  I think a celebratory snack is in order.

Smokey Black bean salsa, black bean corn salsa, bean dip, vegan dip, oil free dip, gluten free dip, gluten free salsa, oil free salsa
Black Bean Salsa with Corn Tortilla Chips


Black bean salsa and chips.  Mine has liquid smoke in it, which is a condiment I use all the time for a nice hickory flavor.  It is not at all spicy, just smokey. You can find it in the bbq sauce section at the grocery store.  It's around $2.

Black Bean Salsa
gluten free, vegan, oil free

2 lg tomatoes- chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can corn, drained & rinsed, or cup of frozen corn, thawed
1/2 cup red onion, chopped
1 jalepeno, minced (or for mild salsa, 1/2 a bell pepper, chopped)
dash of garlic powder
dash of onion powder
1 tbsp orange juice
juice of 1 lime
1/4 tsp liquid smoke
salt & pepper to taste

Mix it all together to combine.  Add more liquid smoke & salt if needed, and mix again.

Serve with corn chips.

Pin it! 

Like RVegan on Facebook!