Sunday, November 6, 2011

Vegan Black Bean Quinoa Burger

Recently I bought the cookbook Big Vegan, and so far everything I have made has been delicious!! I have made this burger twice now. The first time I made it, I use the sesame seeds as the recipe recommended. However my older daughter and husband did not like it, and since I LOVED it; I had to try again. Whew! The second time my husband declared that it was the most delicious sandwich he had ever eaten! I agreed! YUM!

can of black beans drained and rinsed
1/2 cup quinoa
2 scallions or spring onions
1/4 cilantro
2 tbsp gluten flour
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin (I used 1/2 tsp so my kids would still eat it!)
1/2 tsp chili powder (I used a couple of shakes of red chili pepper flakes)
salt to taste
onion
tomato
hummus and or salsa
bread or bun

I cooked the quinoa per the box, but I only cooked half of a cup. Then put the drained and rinsed beans in a bowl with the chopped cilantro, spring onions, chili pepper flakes, cumin and salt. While the quinoa was still cooking I cut and onion to saute them. I sauteed it in a pan with olive oil and a very small amount of german rock sugar once the onions were translucent. When the quinoa was done I added it to the bowl and used and potato masher to mash them.


Preheat the oven to 425. Make 4 patties and put them on a greased baking sheet and bake them for 15 minutes and flip them over for another 10 minutes. I lighted toasted the buns and spread hummus on them. My husband also had salsa on his. Add the sauteed onions and sliced tomato, unless you have salsa on it as well.

Vegan White Bean Spread Sandwich



I first had a white bean spread sandwich at Sweet Butter in Sherman Oaks and loved it so much I had to try and make it at home! It was a delicious success and I am now obsessed!!

bread (Rudy's 7 grain with flax or whatever you prefer)
white Beans (raw)
garlic 2-3 cloves
1 lemon
1/4 cup olive oil (or more)
1 tbsp balsamic vinaigrette
salt and pepper to taste
onion
grape tomatoes
onion
water
wild arugula

I bought a bag of white beans and soaked them over night and then the next day cooked them for about an hour and a half. Then in a food processor I added 2-3 gloves of garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinaigrette, lemon juice squeezed from a lemon, salt, pepper and water. Pouring the water in slowly to make sure you don't make it too runny, is a great idea.

I sauteed the onion in a pan with olive oil. Once the onions were translucent I added a little german rock sugar and then the tomatoes that I cut in half.

I lightly toasted the bread, spread the white bean spread on the bread, added the sauteed onions and tomatoes and then the arugula. YUM!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Kale Mango (Pear) Salad
















1 bunch kale (stalks removed and discarded, thinly sliced)
1 lemon
1/4 olive oil

kosher salt
2 tsp agave nectar or honey
freshly group pepper
1 mango
handful pumpkin seeds


This is one of my favorite salads. My mother in law found it on foodnetwork.com for me one day when I wanted to make something with fresh kale. It is amazing! Tonight when I made it; our mango turned out not to be ripe so I used pear instead and it was just as yummy!


In a serving bowl, put the kale, half of the squeezed lemon, a drizzle of olive oil and some kosher salt and massage for 2-3 minutes until it softens and kind of wilts. For the dressing whisk together the other half of lemon, the 2 tsp of agave nectar, lots of fresh ground pepper and the 1/4 cup of olive oil. Pour the dressing over the kale add the mango and top with pumpkin seeds. YUM!

Friday, October 14, 2011

Vegan Beet Salad





















I found this salad in Whole Living Magazine and I LOVE it! I have already made it a second time! I admit the first time I toasted the bread a little less and I do think that is better.

1 small bunch beets (1 lb)
2 slices rustic bread, torn into 1 inch pieces (2 cups)1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil coarse salt (I use kosher salt) and freshly ground pepper
2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp. orange juice
2 avocados, sliced
2 navel oranges, peel and pith removed, segmented
2 cups fresh spinach (I used a lot more than 2 cups)
1 tbsp. toasted salted sunflower seeds

1. Heat oven to 425. Wrap beets in foil with a little butter and salt and roast until tender. About an hour. Once cool, remove skin and slice. 2. Meanwhile, toss bread pieces with 2 tbsp oil, season with salt and pepper (I only used pepper), and toast until golden brown about 6 minutes. 3. Whisk vinegar, orange juice and remaining 2 tbsp oil. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle over beets, avocados, oranges, spinach and croutons. Season with salt and pepper. Top with Sunflower seeds.

The first time I made this salad I tossed the whole salad. It was very tasty that way, however not as pretty.