Category: Dairy-free

Vegetarian Chili

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1 (14 oz) pkg extra firm tofu
1 Tbsp oil
1 Tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp paprika (smoked paprika is best)
½ tsp cumin
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp cayenne pepper

1 Tbsp oil
1 onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
2 cups chopped carrots and/or sweet potatoes
1 cup chopped mushroom
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped pepper

2 (28 oz) cans chopped tomatoes, undrained
1 (19 oz) cans black beans, drained
1 (19 oz) can kidney beans, drained
1 (19 oz) can chickpeas, drained
1 ½ cups of broth, or water

2 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp cocoa
1 Tbsp paprika
1 Tbsp oregano
2 tsp nutritional yeast
2 tsp mushroom spice
1 tsp sea salt
¼ tsp cayenne
¼ tsp pepper

  1. Crumble the tofu. Mix the oil, soy sauce and first set of spices with the tofu. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes. While this is baking, you can prepare the chili.
  2. In a large pot, saute the onions, carrots and mushrooms in the olive oil until the carrots are slightly tender. Add the garlic and saute for another minute.
  3. Add the rest of the ingredients (except the tofu) to the pot. Simmer for about 20 minutes. Add the tofu. Taste and add more spice to your liking.

Suggestion:

Some serving ideas are: with a loaf of fresh bread and butter, or with Tostitos and cheese, or as a taco salad with lettuce, corn chips, cheese…

Vegetarian Spaghetti Sauce

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2 (28 oz) cans of crushed or diced tomatoes (your preference)
1 (5.5 oz) can tomato paste
4-6 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, minced (about 1 cup)
2 carrots, peeled and pureed (about 2 cups)
2 zucchini, pureed (about 2 cups)
1 (227 g) pkg mushrooms, pureed (about 2 cups)
2 ribs celery, pureed, (about 1 cup)
½ roasted red pepper, pureed (about ¾ cup)
1 cup canned black beans, drained and pureed
Tofu ground beef substitute

½ cup parmesan cheese (optional)*
3 tsp “magic mushroom spice” (optional)
2 tsp nutritional yeast
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp hot sauce (or to taste)
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp salt (or to taste)
½ tsp pepper (or to taste)
½ tsp onion powder

  1. Pour the canned tomatoes and tomato paste in a large pot and simmer over medium-low heat.
  2. Using the food processor, mince the garlic and chop the onion. Saute in a little oil until soft. Add to the tomato sauce.
  3. One after the other, puree the carrots, zucchini, mushrooms and celery and then fry them a little to soften them before adding them to the sauce.
  4. Add the rest of the ingredients and adjust to taste. Simmer for 15 minutes up to a few hours (depending on how much time you have).

This makes a very large batch and freezes very well. Also, you can adjust the amounts of different veggies according to your liking.

* Leave parmesan out to make this dairy-free and/or vegan.

Tofu Ground Beef Substitute

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1 package extra-firm tofu (about 14 ounce or 350 grams)
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp paprika

  1. Open tofu, drain water and pat dry.
  2. Mix all the other ingredients together in a bowl to create a paste.
  3. Crumble the tofu into small pieces and mix it with the paste until the tofu is coated.
  4. Bake on a greased baking pan at 400 for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so.

Nut and Seed Bars (dairy-free, gluten-free, sugar-free)

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1 cup coconut (unsweetened)
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/4 tsp salt

1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup honey, warmed for easier mixing

  1. Mix the nuts, seeds and salt together.
  2. Stir in the vanilla and honey.
  3. Place a piece of parchment in an 8″ x 8″ pan. (Cut slits in the corners to get it to go up the sides nicely.)
  4. Pour the nut and seed mixture into the pan and press it down firmly with a spoon.
  5. Bake at 325 for 40-55 minutes. (Start checking them at 45 minutes, but you want to cook them until they’re slightly golden.)
  6. Optional: Melt dark chocolate and spread on top.

Every time I make this, I change the recipe a bit and it always turns out. Try any nuts or seeds (or similar ingredients) you like.

Butternut Squash Soup (Instant Pot or Stovetop)

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Butternut-Squash-Soup1 apple, medium
1 butternut squash, medium (about 3 pounds)

1 large clove garlic, minced
1 yellow onion, diced
1/2 tbsp cooking oil

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cinnamon, ground
1/4 tsp nutmeg, ground

3/4 cup coconut milk, canned (use full fat for a creamier soup)
2 cups vegetable (or chicken) broth

Pumpkin seeds, chopped (for garnish, if you like)

Instant Pot Instructions:

  1. Peel the butternut squash (go around twice with a vegetable peeler), scoop out the seeds and cut into about 2” cubes. Set aside.
  2. Peel, core and chop the apple. Set aside.
  3. Sauté the oil, onion and garlic in the Instant Pot, using the sauté function for about 3-4 minutes, or until fragrant.
  4. Add the butternut squash and apple. Sprinkle on spices and pour in broth. Stir to mix.
  5. Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Then, quick release.
  6. Let cool for about ten minutes. Blend the soup, either using an immersion blend or a regular blender (in batches if needed). Be careful as it will still be hot.
  7. To serve, garnish with a little extra coconut milk (or sour cream), and pumpkin seeds.

Stovetop Instructions

    1. Peel the butternut squash (go around twice with a vegetable peeler), scoop out the seeds and cut into about 2” cubes. Set aside.
    2. Peel, core and chop the apple. Set aside.
    3. Saute, over medium-high heat, the oil onion and garlic for about 3-4 minutes, or until fragrant.
    4. Add the butternut squash and apple. Sprinkle on spices and pour in broth. Stir to mix.
    5. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until squash is tender.
    6. Let cool for about ten minutes. Blend the soup, either using an immersion blend or a regular blender (in batches if needed). Be careful as it will still be hot.
    7. To serve, garnish with a little extra coconut milk (or sour cream), and pumpkin seeds.

Chorizo Tofu Crumbles

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1 block (about 14 ounces or 350 grams) extra-firm tofu, crumbled
2 Tbsp light oil (such as canola or vegetable)
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp chili powder
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (1/2 tsp if you like it spicier)
1/8 tsp ground cloves

  1. Open tofu, drain water and pat dry.
  2. Mix all the other ingredients together in a bowl to create a paste.
  3. Crumble the tofu into small pieces and mix it with the paste until the tofu is coated.
  4. Spread evenly on a greased cookie sheet (or one lined with parchment paper).
  5. Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes, stopping to stir the tofu every now and then. Keep a close eye on it towards the end so that it doesn’t burn. You want the tofu to be nice and browned. The smaller crumbles will be darker than the larger crumbles.

Use where as a substitute for ground sausage meat.

Veggie Burgers

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VeggieBurger1 small onion, finely minced
2 cloves garlic, finely minced

4 dates
1 Tbsp chia seeds
1 (19 oz) cans black beans, drained

1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cumin
½ tsp mustard powder
½ tsp chili powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp freshly ground pepper
½ tsp cayenne pepper

1 egg

½ cup cooked quinoa (or rice)

  1. Sauté the onion and garlic. Set aside to cool.
  2. Meanwhile, finely chop the dates in the food processor. Add the beans and pulse until they are broken up, but not pureed.
  3. Transfer the bean mixture to a bowl. Mix in (in this order) the spices, the chia, the eggs, the onion and garlic mixture, and the quinoa.
  4. Form into (5) patties about ½ cup of mix in each. Freeze until you’re ready to cook them. I freeze them on a cookie pan and then transfer them to a Ziploc bag for storage.
  5. Cook on medium heat in an oiled frying pan, or on the BBQ.

Notes: If you like spice, add more. These pair nicely with avocado or guacamole as a topping.

Beef Barley Soup

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1 ½ lbs stewing beef, chopped small and browned*
6 cups beef broth (or 6 cups water and 3 Tbsp, or cubes, beef bouillon)
2 cups carrots, sliced
1 ½ cups onions, chopped
1 ½ cups celery, chopped
½ cup green pepper, chopped (about ½ a pepper)
½ cup barley
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 bay leaves
1 (28 oz) can tomatoes, chopped (3 ½ cups)
¼ cup ketchup
1 cup tomato sauce

  1. Combine all the ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a boil.
  2. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour or until barley and vegetables are barely tender.
  3. Remove bay leaves before serving.

* For a more economical version, you can use hamburger.

Energy Bars (dairy-free, gluten-free, sugar-free)

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½ cup peanut butter (or almond butter)
2 Tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
¼ cup cocoa
5 large, pitted dates
¼ cup raisins (or dried cranberries)

¾ cup raw pecan halves
¾ cup raw cashews
¾ cup raw almonds
¼ cup shredded, unsweetened coconut

Honey (to taste if desired)

  1. Put the first six ingredients into the food processor and blend until smooth.
  2. Add the nuts and coconut and pulse until it reaches a desired consistency.
  3. Taste the mixture and add honey if you want it sweeter. (You can also add more peanut butter if it’s not binding well enough.)
  4. Press into an 8” x 8” pan. Chill and then cut into squares.

Suggestion: Feel free to experiment with different ingredients in this recipe, such as oat bran, chia seeds, sesame seeds, wheat germ, flax seeds, psyllium husk, chocolate chips… I make it differently each time!

Basic White Bread

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This recipe can be made without a mixer, but is much easier if you have a Kitchen Aid mixer and use the dough hook.

2/3 cup warm water
½ tsp sugar (or honey)
4 tsp yeast

1 cup warm water
4 Tbsp sugar (or honey)
2 tsp salt
5 Tbsp oil
6 cups flour* (approximately)

  1. Dissolve the yeast and (½ tsp) sugar in (2/3 cup) warm water and let sit for 10 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, measure (1 cup) warm water into a mixing bowl. Add (4 Tbsp) sugar, salt, oil and the yeast mixture.
  3. Gradually add the flour, mixing well until it forms a soft dough.
  4. Form dough into a ball and place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top.
  5. Cover and let rise somewhere warm (like in the oven with the light turned on) for 1 to 1.5 hours or until doubled.
  6. Punch down, knead for several minutes and shape into two loaves and place in greased loaf pans. Brush tops with oil.
  7. Cover and let rise for another 1 to 1.5 hours.
  8. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes until the loaves are golden brown on top.

Makes two loaves.

* Note: You can substitute 2 cups of whole wheat flour. If doing so, add it first, and then finish by adding the all purpose flour.