Almond Joy Dates are super quick, easy, and luscious bite-size bundles of joy and healthful decadence made by a dear friend, Sharon Lee Clohessy, for my birthday.
Simply sweeten plant-based cream cheese with natural sugar and coconut, tuck inside dates, and top with chopped chocolate-covered almonds. That’s it!
Serve on a platter, if you don’t devour them first, with alternating whole dates garnished with a few of the whole chocolate-covered almonds.
Recipes for these abound, but I like mine best, she says modestly…perhaps it is the brandy!
The absolute strangest thing happened with this recipe. I created it, proudly posted photos and the recipe, and a friend made it and had drastically different results: way too soft and fudgy, even after refrigetation, if there is such a thing, haha.
So I made the recipe again myself and had the same results. Not satisfactory at all. I can’t imagine what I did and I will never know. But, I went back to the drawing board, adding 1/2 cup oatflour–but you could add any flour–2 tablespoons less water, though you might need to add it back in depending on how absorbent your flour is, and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder. I turned up the temperature to 350 instead of 325 and I cooked them for 33 minutes vs. 25.
The result is exactly what you see in the new photos and I can’t imagine a brownie as good with no refrigeration necessary…brownies should not be cold! I was devastated when this happened, but now I’m so glad it did because these are superior to the others and, frankly, to any brownies I have ever made or tasted!
1-15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed well
1/2 cup oatflour or your favorite flour, including all purpose if gluten is no problem
2 tablespoons flaxseed meal whisked with 1/4 cup water and set aside for 5 minutes to thicken; whisk again before using
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoons strong brewed coffee (can use decaf)
2 tablespoons brandy (or rum)
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutched)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips, divided
1/2 cup pecan pieces, divided (optional, but recommended)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with non-stick spray, line bottom and up two sides with parchment paper, and spray again.
In a food processor, place all ingredients except chocolate chips and pecans. Process until very smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. If consistency is more cookie dough than thick brownie batter, you can add 1 to 2 tablespoons additional water. Remove blade and gently stir in 1/4 cup chocolate chips and 1/4 cup pecan pieces. (In the photo, I just used 1/4 cup pecans on top for prettier slicing.)
Spread mixture evenly into prepared baking pan. Sprinkle tmremaining chocolate chips and pecans evenly over surface.
Place brownies in center of preheated oven and bake about 33 minutes until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with just the slightest bit of moist chocolate coloring it (not really clinging to it). Cool pan on a wire rack. Serve or cover tightly until serving time.
#vegan #veganrecipes #veganfoodshare #veganfoodporn #plantbased #plantbasedrecipes #plantbasedfoodshare #plantbasedfoodporn #vegansofinstagram #vegansoffacebook #vegansofvirginia #blackbeanbrownies #veganbrownies #plantbasedbrownies
Creamy Coconut Lentils with Hot Chili Oil Two Ways : Dip and Burger!
Hit chili oil/hot chili crisp is my new jam. I can’t stop creating new ways to enjoy it.
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 small onion, slivered or diced
2 to 3 green onions, thinly sliced on the diagonal
1 teaspoon soy sauce
2 to 3 large cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
1 pound dry lentils (I used green), rinsed, drained, and picked over
1 tablespoon hot chili crisp (I purchase at Kroger on Asian aisle) or hit chili oil
4 to 5 cups water
4 bouillon cubes or 4 teaspoons vegetable base
1/3 cup coconut milk (I used light)
In a Dutch oven or large soup pot, heat oil to sizzling over medium. Add onion, green onion, and soy sauce, and saute, stirring frequently, until soft. Stir in garlic and saute for another 30 seconds. Add all remaining ingredients except coconut milk and simmer 20 minutes or so until lentils are tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in coconut milk and heat through.
Poached Garlic and Ginger in Hot Chili Crisp:
1 tablespoon hot chili crisp or oil
4 to 5 large cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
1 inch ginger root, peeled and thinly sliced
Place all ingredients in small dish or cup, cover with plastic wrap, and poach in microwave for 30 seconds to one minute or until tender.
To serve as dip with wonton chips:
Cut vegan wonton wrappers into triangles and deep fry in oil heated to about 375 degrees just until golden brown. Drain well and sprinkle with a little sea salt. Serve lentils topped with poached garlic and ginger slices and wonton chips.
To serve as Lentil Burgers with Hot Chili Crisp Slaw:
2 cups Creamy Coconut Lentils with Hot Chili Crisp, cooked until most of moisture is evaporated or absorbed
1 cup old fashioned oats, raw
1 bag (approximately 14 ounces) shredded slaw mix
3 to 4 tablespoons vegan mayo (I use Walton Farms no calorie)
Poached Garlic and Ginger in Hot Chili Crisp
Combine Creamy Coconut Lentils with old fashioned oats and set aside for oats to absorb moisture. Meanwhile, combined mayo with Poached Garlic and Ginger in Hot Chili Crisp to taste. In large bowl, combine dressing with slaw mixture and chill until serving time.
Form lentil mixture into 8 patties approximately 3/4 inch thick. In a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray, pan fry, compacting with spatula, for about 2 minutes on each side over medium heat or until they develop a golden brown crust. Serve atop a mound of slaw, with or without a toasted bun, garnished as desired. I used red bell pepper strips, dill pickles, baby kale leaves, and lightly salted and roasted cashew halves.
When you are craving a lighter, brighter, and less tomatoey version of the classic with a nod to global fusion.
Cauliflower and Coconut Milk Chili
Yield: 6 servings
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, diced
1 large garlic clove, diced
1 Poblano pepper, seeded and diced
5 ounces riced cauliflower
1 teaspoon sea salt
1-15 ounce can dark red kidney beans, drained
1 teaspoon adobo
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1-15 ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes
1-10 ounce Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies
1-10 ounce Rotel diced tomatoes with lime juice and cilantro (or, if you want it less tangy, a second can of diced tomatoes and green chilies)
1 cup coconut milk, lite or regular
1 tablespoon maple syrup
Toppings: vegan sour cream and roasted, lightly salted pumpkin seeds, and fresh mint leaves
Heat olive oil over medium in Dutch oven or large soup pot. Saute onion, garlic, pepper, cauliflower, and sea salt until tender. Add all remaining ingredients except toppings, stir well, and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve in cups or bowls, topped as desired.
These are just perfection: not too sweet with beautifully contrasting textures.
Yield: 16 bars
Shortbread Crust:
5 tablespoons vegan butter, softened (I love Miyoko’s)
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 cup flour or King Arthur Gluten- Free Baking Mix
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup broken or chopped pecans
Spray an 8-inch square pan with nonstick spray, line with a strip of foil or parchment paper. And spray again. Cream together butter and sugar. With mixer on low speed, blend in flour, salt, and broken pecans until a dough forms. Press evenly into pan and bake 25 minutes.
Filling:
3 tablespoons vegan butter
6 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons nondairy milk
1 tablespoons bourbon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/2 cups broken or coarsely chopped pecans
1/2 cup vegan, gluten-free chocolate chips
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine all ingredients, bring to a simmer, and cook for 1 minute. Pour evenly over crust, sprinkle with chocolate chips, and bake 15 minutes. Cool and cut into squares.
Glazed Amaretto (or Rum) Mini Bundt Cakes
Yield: 12-2-inch mini bundt cakes
On a recent hike, my friend and A+ history teacher, Linda Francis, had been waxing poetic about a former colleague’s Glazed Amaretto Mini Bundt Cakes, as well as a rum version, that she would bring in every Christmas, which caused a ripple of excitement down the social studies hall. I could not stop thinking about them.
My first attempt to recreate them, based on Linda’s description, as well as to veganize them, was an utter down-the-disposal fail, but it was worth it to get to this version. Dense enough to be a very close cousin of a pound cake, they are light enough to have a springiness about them.
The flavour is deeply almondy–or rummy–and the rich glaze is somewhere between a syrup and a caramel. I have no idea if they are anything like the originals, but it doesn’t matter: these will become standards in our house.
Glazed Amaretto (or Rum) Mini Bundt Cakes
1/2 cup butter (I prefer Miyoko’s), room temperature
1 cup granulated natural sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup nondairy milk (I use unsweet soymilk) curdled with 1 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons Amaretto liqueur, Bailey’s Almande or rum (I like spiced rum)
Amaretto or Rum Glaze (recipe follows)
Preheat oven to 350. Spray 12-cup mini bundt cake pan with nonstick spray. With electric mixer, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Add baking powder, extracts, half of flour, half of non-dairy milk, and 2 tablespoons Amaretto, Almande, or rum. Beat on low or medium speed just until combined, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Repeat with remaining non-dairy milk and 2 tablespoons Amaretto, Almande, or rum. Divide evenly among mini bundt cake cups. Bake approximately 17 minutes or until set and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool a couple minutes and then brush tops with remaining 2 tablespoons Amaretto, Almande, or rum. Let soak in and then remove cakes from pan to slightly cool on wire rack set over a baking sheet. Meanwhile make glaze and spoon evenly over cakes. Spoon up what drips onto baking sheet and drizzle over the tops of the cakes again. These cakes are delicious served warm as well as room temperature.
Amaretto or Rum Glaze
1/2 cup Amaretto, Bailey’s Almande, or rum (I like spiced rum)
1/4 cup water
1l2 cup granulated natural sugar
2 tablespoons butter (I prefer Miyoko’s)
Simmer together all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat for a couple minutes or until slightly reduced and thickened. The longer you simmer, the thicker the mixture will become and you want to avoid creating caramel.
It is fair to say I am obsessed with the Tofu Braised in Hot Chili Oil at Judy’s Sichuan, a great local restaurant. But with its big cubes of deep fried tofu, it is a fairly high calorie dish. So I have created a profusion of ways to incorporate the flavor profile into healthier dishes, including popcorn and even popcorn salad, a whole grain-based salad like no other.
I created this warming and pleasantly *lip numbing soup so that we could enjoy our black eyed peas on New Years Day with punched-up flavor. Though Bob and I have been very fortunate during the Covid19 pandemic, I felt I should enjoy a bowl of this good luck omen on behalf of this beleaguered world.
While I made the soup for the holiday, please enjoy it any day for any reason. These humble black eyed peas are remarkably tasty with their unexpected twist.
*Sichuan peppercorns, not peppers at all, possess a numbing property that is not due to heat and, in fact, enhances other flavors.
Sichuan Black Eyed Pea Soup
Yield: 4 servings
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1/2 red and 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 to 2 teaspoons ground Sichuan peppercorns (I purchase at Asian grocery)
2 large cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced on diagonal
2 inches fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced on diagonal
1 to 2 tablespoons Chinese hot chili oil or fried chili crisp (I purchase the latter at Kroger on International aisle and use as is or make my chili oil from it)
2 cups fresh black eyed peas (you may substitute canned, rinsed and drained, or cooked dry peas)
1-15 ounce can lite coconut milk and 1/2 can warm water
Optional Garnishes: scallions, thinly sliced on diagonal, lightly roasted and salted peanuts, star anise
Cover bottom of soup pot with water, add sesame oil, and place over medium heat to bring to simmer. Add onion and bell peppers, sprinkle with salt and ground Sichuan peppercorns, and simmer, stirring frequently, until tender. Add garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, for a couple of minutes. Add remaining ingredients and cook, stirring occasionally, until flavours have married, peas are very tender, and soup is heated through, approximately 20 minutes. Adjust seasoning to suit your taste and add more water if needed. If desired, puree 2 cups of soup and pour back in, stirring to distribute. The soup will be less colorful, but creamier; I enjoy it both ways. Serve in mugs or bowls garnished as desired.
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
I am obsessed with the flavors of a dish called Tofu Braised in Hot Chili Oil at a local restaurant called Judy’s Sichuan. But, I could do without the deep frying of the tofu and the additional oil, as mesmerizing as it is. I have attempted a stir-fried veggie version or two in the past that were unspectacular fails.
But, recently, fellow foodie and friend, Juan Gelpi, introduced me to Sichuan peppercorns. Eureka! The missing flavor. So I started brainstorming and alighted on a non-traditional roasted prep which I love because it is hands-free cleaner, and neater.
I hope you love my tofu-less and non-braised version of Tofu Braised in Hot Chili Oil.
Sichuan Vegetables in Hot Chili Oil with Garlic, Ginger, Scallions, & Peanuts (vegan & plant-based )
Yield: 6 to 8
2 tablespoons vegetable or peanut oil
2 teaspoons sesame oil
6 to 8 cups cauliflower, broccoli, or a combination of florets
1 red bell pepper or 1/2 red and 1/2 green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoons ground Sichuan peppercorns (I purchase at Asian grocery)
2 tablespoons Chinese hot chili oil or fried chili crisp (I purchase at Kroger on International aisle)
2 to 3 inches fresh garlic, peeled and thinly sliced on diagonal
4 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced on diagonal
2 scallions, thinly sliced on diagonal
1/2 cup lightly roasted and salted peanuts
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Pour oils into large roasting pan. Add vegetables, toss in oil, sprinkle with salt and Sichuan peppercorns. Roast for 20 minutes, stirring after 10. Remove pan from oven. Increase heat to 450 degrees. Stir remaining ingredients into vegetables, scraping up caramelized bits. Return to oven for 10 minutes, stirring after 5. Crack oven door, turn off heat, and allow to cool to warm. Serve immediately.
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
My friend, Jeff Dunn, to whom I gifted half of the recipe in a red-lidded carton tied with a bow, texted me that “The soup is Phenomenal!! I think this is my new favorite soup of all time.”
This is a rich,creamy, deeply flavored, and dramatically cleaned up version of a dairy-based beer Cheddar soup recipe I came across. It was made with lots of dairy, coconut milk, and no pumpkin, rather pumpkin beer.
While I didn’t taste that soup, I can’t imagine a tastier nor velvetier version than mine made with pureed pumpkin, coconut milk, the vegan beer of your choice, and a small amount of vegan Cheddar supplemented with cheesy and ultra-healthy nutritional yeast.
Pumpkin Beer Cheddar Soup
(vegan & plant-based)
Yield: 6 servings
1 medium-large yellow onion, diced
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 vegetable bouillon cube or 1 teaspoon paste
1-15 ounce can pureed pumpkin
1-15 ounce can coconut milk, lite or regular
12 ounces vegan beer (Google to identify vegan brands)
1 cup shredded vegan Cheddar
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
Ootional toppings: grated vegan Cheddar, sliced green onions, roasted and lightly salted pumpkin seeds or pecan halves, pomegranate arils, dried cranberries or cherries, sprig of rosemary, sage leaves, croutons, etc.
Cover bottom of large soup pot with water and add onion and salt. Place over medium heat and simmer, stirring frequently, until onion is soft. Add garlic and saute 30 seconds. Add cornstarch and stir well to combine. Add remaining ingredients, in order, stirring after each to completely combine. Simmer for 10 minutes or so until beer mellows and all flavors marry. Season with additional salt if necessary and serve topped as desired.
