May 2, 2010July 21, 2010 by betsy

Vegan Pumpkin Waffles

Yield: 2 4-part waffles that may be cut in half for smaller servings

The forecast for today predicts temperatures in the 90s but that didn’t prevent me from making very autumnal-sounding waffles fir breakfast. I had ordered several bags of dehydrated pumpkin powder this winter, but had never opened the packages and, for some reason, woke up with a burning desire to use some of it in waffles this morning.

The lovely golden powder is readily available from online sources; I order mine from Barry Farm and it is indispensable when you want that irresistibly homey pumpkin flavor, but not the moisture that comes with it. Hence, waffles are a perfect application, as they need to be crisp-tender.

Whipping up vegan waffle batter is a snap because it doesn’t require separating eggs, whipping the egg whites, and folding them in. Cooking the waffles, though, can be a tiny bit tricky just because you can’t see what’s happening inside the waffle maker. So, before making this or any waffle recipe, be sure you have a reliable waffle iron that you trust implicitly and that you follow the manufacturer’s directions to the letter.

Enjoy these pumpkiny waffles with plain warm maple syrup so that nothing overpowers their delicate flavor.

1/2 cup self-rising flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup dehydrated pumpkin powder (available online from Barry Farm and other resources)
4 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
pinch coarse sea or kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon white or apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup unsweetened, plain or plain “lite” soymilk
3/4 cup water
1 tablespoon canola oil
Topping: warm maple syrup
Optional garnish: a strawberry and or chopped pecans or walnuts

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together first seven ingredients. In a small bowl or 2-cup measuring cup, place baking soda and vinegar, causing soda to “fizz.” Add soymilk and water and whisk together. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in soymilk mixture and canola oil. Whisk together just until completely combined. Set batter aside to rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to low and prepare waffle iron according to manufacturer’s directions. Cook two full-size 4-part waffles, one at a time, using half of the batter for each, according to the manufacturer’s directions for your particular waffle maker,. Remember to spray the cooking surfaces with nonstick spray between each waffle. Keep the first waffle warm in the oven until ready to serve. Because the flavor of these waffles is delicate, they are best served with warm unadorned maple syrup and an optional strawberry or sprinkling of nuts.

February 11, 2010February 10, 2011 by betsy

Vegan Pumpkin Cake with Vegan Cranberry-Walnut Streusel

Yield: one 9 x 13″ cake

This is the moistest cake you may ever eat. And it becomes even more so as it sits (well covered of course).

The cake was inspired by a recipe I saw for a dried cranberry-nut pumpkin cake. I didn’t think the dried cranberry and nuts sounded very good in the batter. So, thinking that I wanted to make something that didn’t require frosting, but that was more than just a “naked” cake, I thought of a streusel topping. Then it occurred to me that I could add the dried fruit and nuts to the streusel. Eureka! Goldilocks would agree that the combination is just right.

I crave this cake perhaps most especially at breakfast because it functions well as a coffeecake. But I hope you will enjoy it anytime you please!

For this recipe and some 170+ more,
I invite you to purchase my first cookbook:

The Blooming Platter:
A Harvest of Seasonal Vegan Recipes

Vegan Heritage Press
Spring 2011

February 7, 2010July 21, 2010 by betsy

Vegan Dehydrated Pumpkin Powder from Barry Farm Foods

If you’re not familiar with dehydrated pumpkin powder, I want to introduce you to one of my favorite kitchen companions. I am an absolute “freak” for pumpkin, but sometimes the water content is too high for the desired results, meaning that in order to achieve a rich pumpkin flavor, sometimes the dough or batter becomes too moist.

Enter dehydrated pumpkin powder. I order mine from Barry Farm Foods, but if you “google” the product, you will find a variety of sources. Barry Farm sells theirs in 4 ounce bags, but you can also purchase it from other sources in one-pound jars and even in bulk.

I use it in my Vegan Chewy-Crisp Pumpkin Cookies, but I want to experiment with it in a pasta dough.

They also carry a variety of other powders, like artichoke, for which I have big plans! Mmm…

Image Credit: Barry Farm Foods website. (Note: in actuality, the powder is not this yellow; it’s more yellow than what you might think of as “pumpkin-colored,” but it’s not electric!)

November 1, 2009July 21, 2010 by betsy

Vegan Sweet Rolls with Vegan Pumpkin-Cream Cheese Filling and Vegan Maple Almond Cream-Cheese Glaze

Yield: 12 small-medium sweet rolls

If you didn’t already know, now that fall is here, you will soon discover that I am absolutely addicted to pumpkin. Savory or sweet, it doesn’t matter. I “think in pumpkin” from at least September to January.

For these breakfast treats, I use the yeast-free quick dough my mom used to make for cinnamon-sugar sweet rolls on the weekends. She used Bisquick and so do I–it’s vegan! But then I fill mine with a vegan pumpkin and cream cheese filling that is simply whisked together. I add almonds to the mixutre, but you could use a different nut or omit the nuts all together.

After the short baking time, I top them with a vegan cream cheese glaze sweetened with maple syrup and flavored with a hint of almond extract. The garnish is just some finger-crushed sliced almonds.

These are great for Thanksgiving morning or anytime, really, because they seem special, but are so quick and easy. It’s almost like cheating. I love them served on a platter of rinsed and dried fall leaves with hot tea or decaf coffee.

Note: I baked mine in silicone muffin tins, so they didn’t turn as golden brown as they would in metal tins.

Rolls:
2 1/2 cups Bisquick baking mix
2/3 cup unsweetened soy milk (plain, vanilla or vanilla lite would be good too)
1 tablespoon vegan butter, very soft or melted

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. With a fork, stir together Bisquick and soy milk. Add more of either ingredient as needed to create a moist, but not sticky, dough. Sprinkle counter or pastry board with a little Bisquick and pat dough into a rectangle about 1-inch thick. Sprinkle rolling pin with more Bisquick and roll dough into a larger rectangle about 12 1/2-inches long in one direction and about 1/4 inch thick. Spread with the vegan butter. Then spread with the filling (recipe follows), leaving about a half-inch margin all the way around Roll up jellyroll style and then, using a serrated knife with a gentle back-and-forth motion, slice rill into 12 one-inch spiral disks. Place each, cut side down, into muffin tins. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until just starting to turn golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool 5-8 minutes in the pan. Top with a teaspoon of glaze (recipe follows), spreading it as much as you like, and garnish with a almonds (see below).

Filling:
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) vegan cream cheese, slightly warmed in microwave (about 10 seconds)
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) pumpkin puree (I use canned)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons Bisquick (this will help the filling set)
optional: 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) finger-crushed sliced almonds (or the nut of your choice, e.g. pecans or walnuts)

Whisk together all ingredients except nuts until smooth and then stir in nuts.

Glaze:
2 tablespoons vegan cream cheese, slightly warmed in microwave (about 10 seconds)
2 tablespoons maple syrup
a drop of almond extract

Whisk together in a small cup or bowl.

Garnish:
a few sliced almonds, crushed between your fingers
Note: you may substitute the nut of your choice, like pecans or walnuts, especially if you used those nuts in the filling

April 9, 2009July 21, 2010 by betsy

Vegan Caribbean Pumpkin and Black Bean Soup

Yield: approximately 4 servings

I generally favor fresh or frozen vegetables, but I do use canned beans and canned pumpkin puree. I hope that doesn’t offend anyone, but I’m just not that much of a purist…yet. Plus, canning pumpkin is said to concentrate its beta-carotene. My good friend Sonya told me she likes this soup made with corn. Try using half a can of beans and about half a can of frozen corn so you still get some protein from the beans. Great idea, S!

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin (generous)
1 teaspoon ground coriander (generous)
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano or 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh, minced
1-15 ounce can pumpkin puree
1-15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1-14 ounce can coconut milk or lite coconut milk (lots less calories AND, sadly, flavor; but the soup is still good)
1 1/2-2 cups vegetable stock
4 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
optional: large handful of fresh baby spinach
2 generous tablespoons lime juice
3/4 teaspoon lime zest (optional)
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 tablespoons vegan sour cream
4 cilantro sprigs or a generous tablespoon of minced fresh cilantro
4 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds (optional but nice)

Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute until tender. And next 8 ingredients (along with optional spinach) and heat just until soup starts to bubble around the edges, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 3 minutes to blend flavors. Stir in lime juice and zest. Season with salt and pepper. Serve in bowls topped with sour cream, cilantro and optional pumpkin seeds.