Vegan Lasagna

I often make this without the fake meat and cheese and add more zucchini (about 2 med.), peppers, and mushrooms, just to increase the veggie servings and keep it simple. It is good both ways!

1 (26-ounce) jar marinara sauce, divided
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 cup meatless fat-free sausage, crumbled (such as Lightlife Gimme Lean, optinal)
1 cup chopped mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped zucchini
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (16-ounce) tube of polenta, cut into 18 slices
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded mozzarella soy cheese (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°.

Spoon 1/2 cup marinara sauce into an 8-inch square baking dish to cover bottom, and set aside.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat with a little water/broth or pan spray. Add onion and bell pepper; sauté 4 minutes or until tender (adding water/broth as needed). Stir in sausage; cook 2 minutes. Add mushrooms, zucchini, and garlic; sauté 2 minutes or until mushrooms are tender, stirring frequently. Add remaining marinara sauce; reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes.

Arrange 9 polenta slices over marinara in baking dish, and top evenly with half of vegetable mixture. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of cheese over vegetable mixture; arrange remaining polenta over cheese. Top polenta with the remaining vegetable mixture, and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.

Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

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Roasted Red Pepper Relish

Ingredients:

* 1 red bell pepper
* 1 yellow bell pepper
* 1 green tomato or 2 tomatillos, chopped
* 1 tomato, chopped
* 1 red onion, cut into 1/4 inch pieces
* 2 tbsp olive oil
* 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
* 1-2 tbsp fresh cilantro, minced
* 1/4 tsp salt

Preparation:
Heat oven to 450F.

Prick bell peppers in several places with fork. Place on baking sheet or in shallow roasting pan. Roast peppers 30 minutes or until skin is blackened, turning occasionally.

Transfer peppers to paper bag; close bag. Let stand 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine green and red tomatoes and onion in medium bowl. Stir in oil, vinegar, cilantro, and salt.

Remove peppers from bag; peel off and discard skin. Cut peppers into 1/2 inch pieces; discard seeds. Stir into tomato mixture.

Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Yield 3 cups.

Stir Fried Asparagus with Ginger

Ingredients

1 lb medium-sized asparagus

4 -5 slices fresh ginger

2 tablespoons olive oil

¼ cup roasted cashews or almonds

salt and pepper

Preparation

* Slice asparagus into bite-sized pieces.
* Heat olive oil in a skillet (at medium heat).
* Add ginger slices and let them sizzle for about 30 seconds - 1 minute.
* Add asparagus. Stir fry for 4 - 5 minutes or until crisp.
* Add nuts, salt and pepper and stir fry for another 30 seconds.

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Smothered Tofu Steak and Onions

Ingredients

1 package extra firm tofu
2 tablespoon olive oil (divided)
1 lg. onion
2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 cup extra water
Kosher salt and pepper to taste



Directions:

Slice Tofu into 6 even cutlets about 1/2 inch thick. Place on paper towel to drain. Heat non-stick pan. Slice Onion from root to stem. Add 1 tablespoon oil to pan. Add onions when oil is hot. Sauté onions until golden brown and caramelized (about 5-10 min.) remove onions, set aside. Add other tablespoon of oil to pan. Add Tofu and fry until golden brown on both sides (about 10 min.) Add onions back to pan. Add balsamic Vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and stir. When all combined add slurry of water and Cornstarch to pan. Stir until thick. Add water to thin out if too thick. Add salt and pepper to taste. Plate up this dish with the onions and sauce smothered over the Tofu Steaks. Serve with a side of Roasted Asparagus and a nice Rice Pilaf.

Serves: 2

Preparation time: 30 mins.

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Cinnamon Rolls:

Ingredients:

3/4 cup soy milk
2 tsp. yeast
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 Tbs. baking powder
2 tsp. ground cinnamon, divided
1/4 tsp. salt
4 Tbs vegan margarine
1/3 cup brown sugar

Glaze:
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 Tbs soy milk

Directions:

1. To make Cinnamon Rolls: Preheat oven to 425F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Heat milk in saucepan over medium heat, sprinkle with yeast. Set aside.
2. Combine flours, sugar, baking powder, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and salt in bowl. Rub butter into flour mixture with fingers until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in milk until soft dough forms.

Transfer to well-floured surface and dust with flour. Press into 12x6-inch rectangle.
3. Combine brown sugar and remaining cinnamon in small bowl. Sprinkle over dough, and press in lightly with palms of hands. Gently roll dough lengthwise into log. Cut log into 16 3/4-inch-thick slices. Place slices on prepared baking sheet, reshaping into rounds if necessary. Bake 15-18 minutes, or until rolls begin to brown.
4. To make Glaze: Whisk together confectioners' sugar and soy milk. Glaze will be very thick. Bush glaze on cinnamon rolls right out of the oven.

Barbecue Tofu

Rcipe Source : BlackVegetarians

2 pounds of firm tofu
Olive oil (as needed)
Tamari or raw soy sauce (as needed)
1 sliced onion
1 Tb black pepper
Natural barbecue sauce (see recipe below or use all natural store brand)

Cut the tofu blocks into ¼ inch thick slabs. In a shallow pan, marinade the tofu using a mixture of 1 part olive oil to 1 part tamari or raw soy sauce, so that there is just enough marinade to cover the tofu. Slice the onion and put the slices on top of all the pieces of tofu and sprinkle black pepper over all the blocks of tofu. Allow the tofu to marinade for at least two hours, longer if possible (preferably overnight). Remove the tofu from the marinade and douse it with the barbecue sauce. Right after you put the barbecue sauce on, place the tofu in the freezer and allow it to freeze solid. Once frozen, remove it from the freezer and broil it for 5 to 10 minutes. You can then make a sandwich out of it or put it inside a pita pocket along with your favorite toppings. Serves 4.

(Adapted from 30 Days @ Delights of the Garden by Imar Hutchins.)

Natural Barbecue Sauce


3-4 medium size tomatoes
10 sundried tomatoes
1 cup raisins
2 tsp vinegar
1 Tb tamari or raw soy sauce
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp paprika
2 Tb barbecue spice
1 tsp chili powder

Soak the sundried tomatoes in water for a couple of hours to allow them to get soft. Cut the tomatoes in fourths and place all ingredients in a food processor. Using the S blade, pulverize the contents until smooth.

© 2010 blackvegetarians.org

Kadhai Bhindi

Ingredients:

Lady finger (okra / bhindi) 250 gms.
Gram flour 1 tbsp.
Thinly sliced onion 1
Thinly sliced green chilli 1
Mango powder 1/2 tsp.
Coriander powder 1/2 tsp.
Red chilli powder 1/2 tsp.
Garam masala powder 1/2 tsp.
Cumin seeds 1 tsp.
Turmeric Powder 1/4 tsp.
Vegetable oil as required
Salt to taste




Method:

1. Cut lady finger into thin long slices.
2. Heat oil in a kadhai. Deep fry lady finger until crisp and light golden brown.
3. Keep the fried lady finger aside. Just leave 2 tbsp oil in kadhai, remove the rest.
4. Add cumin seeds and green chilli and fry for 30 seconds. Add sliced onion and fry until golden brown.
5. Add gram flour, mango powder and saute for 3-4 minutes. Add lady finger and the remaining ingredients. Mix well. Heat for a few seconds and then remove from heat.

Garnish with green coriander leaves and serve hot (if possible in a copper base kadhai).

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Spinach and Peanut Sauce Over Rice

Gambian recipe. Serve over rice or couscous or millet.



2 Tbs. olive oil
2 onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
3/4 green bell pepper
1 6-oz. can tomato paste
1 10-oz. package frozen chopped spinach (or fresh spinach)
2 vegetarian bouillon cubes
1/4 cup peanut butter
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Salt to taste
Rice or couscous or millet
Optional: fried tofu

1. Heat olive oil in medium saucepan. Sauté onion, garlic, and green pepper in the oil until onion is translucent. Scoop out the vegetables and set aside. Add the tomato paste to the saucepan for the process called "burning the paste," which means cooking the tomato paste until it bubbles and is thoroughly cooked.

2. Stir in the onions, peppers, garlic, and spinach. If you're using frozen spinach, no additional liquid is needed. If you're using fresh spinach, add 1/8 cup of water. Add the bouillon cubes. Sauté spinach until cooked.

3. Stir in the peanut butter. Add cayenne and salt to taste. Serve over rice or couscous or millet.

Optional fried tofu: Cut extra firm tofu into cubes. Place millet or corn meal in a bowl; stir in the tofu to lightly coat the cubes. Add approximately 3 Tbs. olive oil or canola oil to a medium skillet. Sauté the tofu until lightly brown; stir into the spinach mixture.

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Baby-Get-Back Veggie Ribs

Barry's Bootcamp Complete Workout SystemSunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper with Resistance Bands

Better than pork ribs! These yummy and slightly messy “ribs” are great for family barbeques and cookouts.

2 8-oz. packages bean curd stick (available at most Asian markets; be sure to ask for bean curd stick, rather than bean curd sheets)
2 Tbsp. warm melted margarine
1/4 cup peanut butter (or more, to taste)
2 Tbsp. miso
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
2 tsp. paprika
2 cups barbecue sauce

• Soak the bean curd in warm water for 4 to 6 hours.
• When the bean curd is softened, drain it, squeezing out the excess water, and cut into 4- to 6-inch lengths.
• In a large bowl, mix together the margarine, peanut butter, miso, nutritional yeast, and paprika to form a rich paste. If the mixture is too thick, add a teaspoon of water at a time to thin it to the desired consistency.
• Preheat the oven to 370 degrees F.
• Add the bean curd "ribs" to the paste and mix together, coating the "ribs" thoroughly.
• Place the "ribs" side by side on a large baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes, turning them so that they bake evenly, until the bottoms are crisp and brown.
• Remove from the oven and using a barbecue brush, apply the barbecue sauce to the "ribs." Return the "ribs" to the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes more.

Makes 4 servings

Jalapeno Guacamole Dip Recipe

  
Looking for the best guacamole dip recipe? Try this Mexican guacamole dip recipe made with fresh jalapeno peppers and of course, avocados! Guacamole recipe courtesy of Avocados from Mexico.
Ingredients:

* 2 tbsps finely chopped fresh cilantro
* 2 tsp finely chopped yellow onions
* 2 tsp minced jalapeno or serrano chilies
* salt
* 2 large ripe avocadoes, peeled and seeded
* 2 tbsp finely chopped plum tomato (1 small tomato)
* 2 tsp fresh squeezed lime juice
* warm tortilla chips, for serving

Preparation:
Mash together 1 tablespoon of the cilantro, 1 teaspoon of the onion, 1 teaspoon of the chile, and q/w teaspoon of salt in the bottom of a medium-size bowl.

Add the avocados and gently mash with a fork until chunky-smooth.

Fold the remaining cilantro, onion, and chile into the mixture.

Stir in the tomato and lime juice, adjust the seasonings to taste, and serve with a basket of warm tortilla chips.

Makes 4 servings of the best guacamole dip ever!

Nutritional information per serving:
191 calories, 2.4 grams protein, 18.5 grams fat, 8 grams carbohydrate

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Mchicha - Tanzanian Spinach & Peanut Curry

Mchicha is a very traditional dish in Tanzania & can be made like this with peanut butter - homemade or natural is best - or it can be made with a whole coconut (grated flesh & milk) instead.

SERVES 4 -6

* 2 lbs spinach
* 1 1/2 ounces peanut butter
* 1 tomato
* 1 onion
* 2 teaspoons curry powder (or paste, your favourite blend!)
* 1 cup coconut milk
* 3 tablespoons margarina or oil
* 1 teaspoon salt

Wash the spinach & roughly chop. De-skin the tomato, peel and chop. Peel and chop the onion.

Mix the peanut butter with the coconut milk in a jug & set aside.

Heat the margarine or oil over a medium heat in a large frying pan. Add the onion, tomato, salt and curry powder / paste and sauté for 5 minutes, or until the onion becomes soft.

Add the spinach, continue cooking for about 15 to 20 minutes, until the spinach is cooked.

Pour the peanut butter and coconut milk mixture into the pan & stir gently to mix.

Simmer, for another 5 minutes, stirring constantly, to ensure that the mixture does not stick to the pot.

This dish makes a lovely side dish, & can also be eaten with rice, ugali or samp and beans to form a delicious main course.