Friday, August 26, 2016

No Oil Nacho Chips







These are the most simple recipe to make.  No oil and perfect for guacamole and salsa!!!!

So easy… the key is the right corn tortilla.  My favorite is Mission extra thin!  Great ingredients and crisp up the best!

preheat oven to 400

cut into triangles and place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper and put them in the oven.

THEY MUST BE WATCHED CLOSELY… about 10 minutes give or take.  You want them golden and crisp…not burned or under cooked and chewy!  Practice with your oven and set a timer!  I have burned more batches than I care to admit!  

I take them in a zip lock with me everywhere!  Yes even restaurants!  

Enjoy and stay compassionate! 




Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Plant Based Black Bean Burgers



I don't know about you but I have never found a meatless burger pre made that I really love!  The list of ingredients make my head spin!  

Until now!  These are so simple and delicious… with or without the bun! 

1 can of black beans rinsed and drained
1/2 cup plain instant oats
2 Tbsp ketchup
1 Tbsp dijon mustard
2 shakes garlic powder
2 shakes onion powder
1 tsp of smoked paprika or liquid smoke

Mash the beans with a masher or use a food processor then mix in the other ingredients.  Divide dough like mixture into four balls and form into burger patties.  Bake on parchment at 400 degrees about 10 minutes on each side.  If your oven gets extra hot lower the time… i like mine crisp on the outside but soft on the inside.  

Add your favorite burger toppings!  Enjoy on a big soft bun or like I do… on a large leaf of romaine.  

These are worth giving a try even if you are not plant based! Have a meatless Monday or just to add some healthy delicious fiber to your diet!  

You can't go wrong with black beans… Enjoy and stay compassionate my friends! 








Thursday, August 18, 2016

Plant Based Brown Rice Stuffed Bell Peppers






This is a favorite recipe of mine when I have left over cooked brown rice.  The key is to make the rice super flavorful before stuffing it into the pepper.

Per cup of Left over cooked and cooled brown rice ...
1 large bell pepper top removed and seeds out
1 cup of your favorite tomato sauce 
Add to each cup of rice: 
½ cup sweet onion chopped
2 tablespoons of tomato paste 
¼ cup veggie broth 
¼ tsp garlic powder
1 cup chopped spinach or chard 
¼ cup chopped tomato
¼ cup chopped pepper (your favorite) 
Don't be afraid to add your favorite fresh herb or hot sauce or red pepper flakes.  

Mix rice well and stuff into bell pepper. Bake with sauce in oven 350 for and hour or crock pot in the sauce on low for up to 6 hours or steam entire pepper until tender and top with sauce. I love these served with mashed potatoes. 

Enjoy and stay compassionate! 









Plant Based Gluten and Oil Free Ramen!!!!




Sometimes you just need a bowl of noodle soup!  Having a stressful day… eat some ramen noodles!  Starving and need something in your belly fast?  These can be ready in less than 10 minutes!

I love ramen but it's  usually very unhealthy and laden with deep fried fat.  They are gluten free and vegan! These are made by lotus foods.  They come in a few varieties.  

I found both of these products at Giant Eagle.  The miso soup is also yummy and everything is better with noodles in my opinion.  

These noodles are delicious and come in 4 individual servings for 260 calories and 4 grams of fiber per serving.  There are only 2 ingredients… organic brown rice flour and organic millet.  

They are a little tricky to cook.  Bring 4 cups of water to a boil… when boiling add the chunk of ramen and let cook for one minute before trying to separate.  I find the noodles easiest to separate with two forks.  If you do not separate them all you will have a chunk of sticky noodles.  I find that boiling them while separating and stirring for a good 4-5 minutes makes them perfect.  

After cooking the noodles I drained and rinsed them and put them in a bowl of white miso soup.  These soup packets are all natural and very good!  

You can add the noodles to a salad or toss them with stir fry veggies and teriyaki sauce… I love noodles! 

You can find both of these items in the asian food section at Giant Eagle!  

Enjoy and stay compassionate my friends! 




Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Plant Based Italian Style Collards



Getting enough greens is ultra important!  According to Dr. Esselstyn you need to be eating greens with every meal.  They provide the greatest amount of nitric oxide in the body to keep your vessels nice and dilated!  

Remember we are following a whole food plant based with NO OIL.  

I like to make this in my Hamilton Beach rice cooker on the heat simmer setting but you can make it in a pot with a lid on the stove or in a slow cooker or a even a pressure cooker.  For this recipe the greens will be heated to a bubbling and then lowered to a simmer for at least 45 minutes.  I like my greens fairly soft.

I bought the bag of chopped and cleaned collards but you could buy the large leaves on stems and clean and chop them yourself.  You do need to remove the large tough stem in the middle.

INGREDIENTS:
1 Bag or bunch of cleaned chopped collards
4 cloves of garlic pressed
1 large can of whole tomatoes (check the label… no oil!)
4 -5 chopped banana peppers (hot, med, or mild… your choice or leave them out)
1 cup of vegetable broth (I usually use it to rinse the tomato can before adding it) 
1 Teasp of mrs. Dash seasoning or salt and pepper

Add all ingredients to the pot and bring to a boil, stir, lower, cover and simmer on low for 45 min to an hour.  Taste them and cook longer if not soft enough for you.


At this point you can eat them as is… you can put them over some whole grain or gluten free pasta, you can have them over steamed rice.. they can be added to soup or stews.  

They are so tasty and so good for you.

Enjoy and stay compassionate!  

Monday, August 15, 2016

The Best Oil Free Balsamic Vinaigrette!



Finding a great salad dressing it the key to success!  And finding a great oil free salad dressing was no easy task!  This one is amazing!

In a shaker bottle with a lid… add the following and shake to combine! 

4 TBSP Balsamic vinegar
2 TBSP Dijon Mustard (one that you like)
1 TBSP Water
1-2 TBSP Pure maple syrup

I like to add 1 tsp of Mrs. Dash salt free seasoning!

Play around with the amount of mustard and syrup.  I love this combo!  It makes eating greens every day easy!  

And you need your greens EVERYDAY! 

Enjoy and stay compassionate! 

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Gluten Free Oil Free Cornbread!






This cornbread is easy and delicious!   

In a mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients:

1 cup of cornmeal
1 cup of gluten free all purpose baking flour
1 TBSP baking powder
1/4 tsp fine salt

give this a quick stir to incorporate and add the wet ingredients:

1 cup non-dairy milk
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup pure maple syrup

Stir until just combined and pour into a 9 inch nonstick baking dish, pie plate or cast iron skillet.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes

I love it crumble into bean soup or chili.  It is delicious for breakfast with tofu scramble.  I love it with a little jam for afternoon herbal tea!  

Very easy and very good.  Gluten free, vegan, and oil/fat free!   

Enjoy and stay compassionate!