Category: Recipes

Delicious Vegan Parsley Cashew Pesto

On By SarahIn RecipesLeave a comment

Vegan_Parsley_Cashew_Pesto_IngredientsI truly love using my new food processor. It is not one of those fancy shmancy, expensive types, but it works just as well. As a matter of fact, it is so easy-to-use and creates such vegan deliciousness that after just two weeks in my possession, I can truthfully say that I am addicted to it.

Yesterday, I used my food processor to make scrumptious parsley cashew pesto. Compared to my basil walnut pesto, this sauce has a much stronger parmesanesque taste because the recipe calls for nutritional yeast, which has a nutty, cheesy flavor and is an excellent source of B vitamins.

Fact is that this pesto tastes so unbelievably good that you too won’t be able to resist the urge to eat it.

Instructions

Ingredients

  • ½ cup raw cashews
  • ¼ cup water
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 cups parsley
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tbsp. lemon juice
  • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
  • sea salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cover the cashews with some water and let them sit for 1+ hours.
  2. Drain the cashews using a colander and add them to a food processor together with the other ingredients.
  3. Process the mixture until your preferred consistency has been reached.
  4. Taste and add additional lemon juice or salt and pepper as desired.
  5. Enjoy!

Vegan_Parsley_Cashew_Pesto

BWI: This delicious pesto or any vegan pesto for that matter can be added to numerous dishes. I enjoy this special sauce with baked potato wedges or roasted vegetables.

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Extremely Yummy Vegan Banana Bread

On By SarahIn RecipesLeave a comment

Vegan_Banana_BreadI truly love making and eating banana bread. I have stopped counting how many times I have been asked for this recipe. This bread is very easy to make and tastes incredible. It is super moist and loaded with flavor. The 1/4 teaspoon of allspice is the icing on the cake and takes this recipe to a whole ‘nother level of goodness. Get ready for multiple bites of pure bliss!

Instructions

Ingredients

  • 3 ripe bananas
  • 2 cups of flour – I prefer spelt flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil or veggie margarine
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup rice milk, mixed with 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar – soy milk works just as well.
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 180 °C.
  2. Mash bananas and then set them aside in a bowl.
  3. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and allspice. If you don’t have a sifter at hand, use a whisk to blend the ingredients.
  4. Mix together oil and sugars.
  5. In a cup or small bowl, add 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to the milk and give it a whirl.
  6. Add mashed bananas, milk, and vanilla (I prefer the liquid kind).
  7. Add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture and then mix well. Don’t overmix!
  8. Coat your bread pan with some veggie margarine or non-stick cooking spray.
  9. Pour batter into pan and then bake for about an hour.
  10. To check for doneness, use either a sharp knife or a toothpick. Insert the toothpick in the center of the bread. If it comes out clean or has only a few moist crumbs attached to it, it’s done!
  11. Let the bread cool off before serving it.

Tip: After the bread has cooled off, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Eat within 3 to 5 days!

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All-Star Baked Sweet Potato Fries

On By SarahIn RecipesLeave a comment

Sweet_Potato_Fries_2A couple of years ago, I traveled to Dublin, Ireland, with my sister to see The Coronas live in their hometown at the O2 Arena. Prior to the best concert ever, we had dinner at Jo’ Burger, the restaurant with the best sweet potato fries that I have ever eaten. After my first bite, I was hooked. I don’t normally order seconds, but in this case, I made an exception. It was so worth it!

Since then, I was tried to recreate the magnificent taste of these fries. I always fall just short of achieving this goal. My fries also taste outlandishly good, but they don’t taste like the Jo’ Burger fries. Just another of many reasons to revisit Dublin.

With just one sweet potato and a few herbs and spices, you can make a side dish that not only tastes fantastic, but is also loaded with nutrients. For instance, one medium-sized sweet potato contains over 400% of your daily requirement of vitamin A and is an excellent source of beta-carotene, potassium and fiber. Hence, it can reduce cancer risk; protect against asthma, heart disease and the effects of aging. The skin is high in potassium and fiber, thus, if possible, buy organic sweet potatoes that you don’t have to peel.

Instructions

Ingredients

  • one medium-sized sweet potato per person
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • salt
  • fresh ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon (to add sweetness, if desired)
  • 1/4 red chili flakes (to add an extra kick)

Instructions

  1. Slice the sweet potato into long slices or disks.
  2. Preheat oven to 220 °C .
  3. In a large bowl, toss the sweet potato pieces with just enough oil to coat them. Don’t over do it! Less is more!
  4. Season with salt, pepper, paprika, and cinnamon.
  5. Give the sweet potatoes another toss.
  6. Line a sheet tray with parchment – just one tray for best results!
  7. Spread the sweet potatoes on the prepared baking sheet. Make sure that there is some distance between each fry to prevent the fries from turning soggy.
  8. Bake for about 15 minutes. Turn the fries and bake for another 10-15 minutes.
  9. The fries should be tender and browned on the outside.
  10. Let the fries cool off for 5-10 minutes before serving.
  11. Enjoy!

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