Challenge #40 - No Bake Dessert - Banana Cream Take 2

The banana cream pie I made for Thanksgiving got really good feedback, so thought I would make it again to bring to a Christmas Eve  party, but re-worked to make individual ones that are easy to eat.  I also added a little twist to some of them for those of you that like coconut.
This is the Same the recipe from challenge #34, but slightly tweaked.  This will yield 9 individual treats.
Ingredients Crust:                        Ingredients Filling:  
1-1/2 cups pitted dates                    2 frozen bananas
1 cup almond meal                           1 fresh banana
2 handfuls of raisins                         3-1/2 tbsp raw almond butter
                                                       1 tbsp vanilla extract
Ingredients Optional:
Cinnamon
Sliced banana
Shredded unsweetened coconut.

Step #1: Pulse all crust ingredients together and they begin to combine.  When finished, remove from food processor and put into bowl.  Kneed together to form dough ball.  (Photos below, I forgot to take a picture of this last time).

Step #2: Once your dough is formed, you want to press dough into a non-stick cupcake pan on the bottom and around the sides.

Step #3: Freeze for at least 20 mins.  When time is up, you a knife around edges to help remove them from the cupcake pan.

Step #4: Remove all crust shells and set aside.  Put all filling ingredients in blender and blend.  You can use a bit of almond milk to help facilitate blending.  The first time  I did this, I did not need to use, this time around I used a splash.  I also added cinnamon into the filling.

Step #5: Add banana filling to shells.

Step #6 (if you like coconut, if not skip this step).  I only filled 5 of the shells to start. I then added a bunch of shredded coconut to the filling and blended it again.  I then finished filling the remaining shells (1 is not shown in the above photo).  If you choose to do this, I added some coconut flakes to the top to differentiate the 2 kinds.  Of course you could also add a banana slice, chocolate shavings, sprinkle top with cinnamon...a world of possibilities.
Step #7 - Cover and place freezer to allow the banana filling to get hard.  You will want to remove from freezer for at least 10 mins before serving (think ice cream cake).
Step #8: My husband and I sampled one to make sure they were good before I brought them to this evenings party.  It was yummy!  Below is a photo of a final one with a bite taken out!  Super simple, no baking, and these versions don't require a knife and fork.  I guess if you wanted to make them bite sized, you could use a mini cupcake pan instead.

Challenge #39 - Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins (Vegan)

This one was a pretty big challenge since I am really much more familiar with cooking and not baking.  .  It has taken me a few tries, but here is what I have come up with.  A few people had the batch I made the other night, and everyone liked them (people that eat with no restrictions).  So I took this as a good sign!  Some wanted more chocolate, some wanted less, so I leave it to you how much you want to add or omit.  The muffins were yummy.  They still need perfecting though.  A friend of mine who is a baker had some thoughts, so this is still a work in progress!  If you try this and make some adjustments, please let me know what you did and how it worked out!
Ingredients: Makes 12 muffins (or 6 large muffins)
1 cup buckwheat flour
1 tsp baking soda (aluminum free)
1 tsp baking powder (aluminum free)
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 can pumpkin puree (15 oz)
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin spice
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 dropper of stevia (can use only packets or liquid)
3 packets of stevia
3 tbsp coconut oil
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
70% dark chocolate chunks  (If you want these to be 100% vegan, use vegan carob chips or omit)

Step #1: Mix pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, vanilla, coconut oil & stevia in a bowl.

 Step #2: Mix buckwheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, & sea salt.

Step #3: Mix wet ingredients in to the dry ingredients.  Add in almond milk and continue to stir until batter is smooth.

Step #4: Half or quarter chocolate chunks and add to mix.  You can see in the photo below on the right is the cut chunks and the original size on the left.

Step #5: Use some coconut oil to grease cupcake tray. (My tray was also non-stick) and fill with batter.

 

Step #6: Bake on 350 for 30-35 minutes.  Check after 30 with toothpick.  Bake until toothpick comes out clean.

Step #7: Remove from oven and let cool.  Remove muffins from tray when cool.

Step #8: Enjoy delicious and healthy muffins.  Photo below of one of the muffins cut open.  The chips melt in beautifully.  Feel free to adjust spices and chocolate to your own preferences.

Challenge #38 - Sweet Potato Scallion Pancakes

Two old favorites, potato pancakes and scallion pancakes.  Make way for sweet potato scallion pancakes.
Ingredients:
2 baked sweet potatoes
4 scallions diced
1/3 cup quinoa flour
Salt & Pepper to taste
Garlic salt to taste (optional)
1 tbsp butter (or whatever you like to use)

Step #1: Peel and cube baked sweet potatoes.

Step #2: Mash sweet potatoes and add diced scallions

Step #3: Mix together and add quinoa flour.  I did not add the entire 1/3 cup to start, you will want to do the same so you can check the consistency.  You can check by turning spoon upside down.  Mixture will stick and not fall off.  See photo below.

Step #4: When you have a good consistency, form patties. It's a little messy- but it's worth it, I promise!

Step #5: Melt butter in pan and add patties.  Once golden brown on bottom, flip and brown other side.

Step #6: Serve and enjoy.  My husband really liked these as well.  I will definitely be making these again in the future.  We both like them crispy, but you can brown them as much as you like.

Challenge #37 - Mock Risotto

One of my most favorite dishes is risotto!  Though I occasionally still have it, I really try to stick to millet, quinoa, & buckwheat.  So I have reworked the classic to be made with millet.  The recipe below is for mushroom/asparagus risotto, but you could do a primavera or whatever you like.

Ingredients:
1 cup millet (uncooked)
1-1/2 cups mushroom broth
1/2 cup water
Half bunch of asparagus - chopped to about 1/2" pieces
Mixed mushrooms (I bought a pre-sliced blend, shiitake, baby bella, & I think oyster)
1 shallot - diced
1 spring rosemary
1 tbsp butter (or whatever you want to saute in)
Sea Salt & pepper to taste
1-2 tbsp Nutritional yeast (optional)

Step #1: Melt butter in pan with rosemary sprig. Once melted, add in diced shallots, asparagus, & mushrooms.  When cooked through and tender, remove from pan.

Step #2: Add millet to pan.

Step #3: Add about half broth to pan and stir.  As millet begins to soak up broth, add remainder of broth.

Step #4: When all broth has been soaked up, remove sprig of rosemary and add veggies.  Stir together to let flavors blend.  Add sea salt and pepper to taste.

Step #5: Serve and enjoy!

This also works well as a leftover.  I added some to a small pot to heat with a splash of broth so it would not dry out.  Very delicious the following day.

Challenge #36 - Quinoa salad

I wanted to make something simple that would give me a few meals for lunch during the week... Quinoa salad.  Also, since 1 cup quinoa  uncooked is 3 times the amount cooked, this is great if you are on a tight budget.
Ingredients:
1 cup uncooked quinoa pre-washed ( I used red, but the black or white would be fine too)
1 cup veggie broth (yeast free)
1 cup water
1 red pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 scallion
1 box frozen artichokes (can use jarred or canned)
1/2 lemon
Sea Salt

Step #1: Add one cup of quinoa to 1 cup veggie broth, 1 cup water and bring to a boil.  Once liquid is boiling, bring to simmer until quinoa is tender.  If you have never made quinoa before, the grain opens and you see the germ ringlet when it is cooked.  See photo below.  1 cup uncook ed yields about 3 cups cooked.

Uncooked red quinoa

Quinoa coking, almost done

Close up quinoa cooked, you can see the ringlets

Step #2: Dice veggies and throw in bowl while quinoa is cooking.

Veggies diced up

Step #3: Cook frozen artichoke according to package (this is what I had, canned or jarred is fine)

Artichoke cooking

Step #4: When quinoa cools, add to veggies along with artichoke hearts.  Add lemon and salt to taste.  Mix and enjoy!  You can really add any combination of veggies you wish.

Quinoa Salad

Challenge #35 - Quick and Easy

I came home one night and wanted to make something quick and super easy - so here's what I came up with... Vegetable Soba Soup inspired by Undo soup.  Please note, not all soba noodles are 100% buckwheat, please read packages carefully if you are gluten intolerant.  I'm ok if there is  little bit of wheat in them.  I just discovered this the other day.

Ingredients:
Soba Noodles (1/2 package)
1 cup vegetable brooth
1 cup water
Few splashes nama shoya (raw soy sauce) - optional
1 carrot shredded
Steamed broccoli
2 sheets un-toasted Nori sheets (can used toasted if desired)

Step #1: Bring veggie broth & water to boil(can adjust quantity as needed).  Add soba noodles when boiling and cook until tender, about a 4-8 mins depending on what brand you buy.
Step #2: While  noodles are going, shred 1 carrot, crumbled up nori sheets and add to large bowl along with steamed broccoli.  (I usually have steamed broccoli in the fridge already)

 

Step #3: Add soba noodles and broth to bowl with veggies.  Add in a few splashes to nama shoyu and stir.

Step #4: Enjoy!  Simple and fast.  Perfect for a cold winter day.  Of course you can add whatever vegetables you want.  If you eat meat, you can throw in left over chicken or beef.

Challenge #34 - Banana Cream Pie

I was inspired by a peanut butter banana pie recipe I saw on the food network.  Other than the banana, there was no other ingredients I was to have.  So I came up with the following recipe to create a gluten free/sugar free version.  I brought this to Thanksgiving diner, and it got rave reviews from those eating a SAD which I took as a very good sign.

Ingredients Crust:                        Ingredients Filling:  
1-1/2 cups pitted dates                    2 frozen bananas
1 cup almond meal                           1 fresh banana
2 handfuls of raisins                         3-1/2 tbsp raw almond butter
                                                       1 tbsp vanilla extract
Ingredients Optional:
Cinnamon
Sliced banana

Step 1: Pit dates (unless you buy already pitted dates)

Step 2: Add dates, raisins, & almond meal to food processor and pulse until its broken down and starts to combine.  Remove from food processor and roll into ball to make dough.  make sure ingredients are well combined.

 Step 3: Press dough into parchment paper covered pan to make crust (bottoms & sides)

 Step 4: Blend frozen bananas, bananas, almond butter, & vanilla. 

Step 5: Put filling into crust.  Sprinkle with cinnamon if desired.

Step 6: Add sliced banana to slices before serving.  The pictured below was right after I made the pie (I was excited to try it!)  Before I served it to others, I put it back in the freezer and allowed the filling to set.  Remove and let soften before cutting and serving (think softening a super hard container of ice cream before scooping)

 

You can make the crust with a different nuts like pecan instead.  I chose to use almond because I put almond butter in the filling. 

Challenge #33 - Thanksgiving Stuffing My Way!

This past weekend was one of my favorite holidays - Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving was interesting enough a few years ago when I became a vegetarian, but this year was even trickier eating a detox diet.  Stuffing was always one of my favorite things, so I was determined to create my own version of stuffing and not feel left out. So here you go....gluten free stuffing.

The No's:  Bread Crumbs, Bread cubes
The Swap:  Millet flatbread (or you favorite gluten free bread)

Ingredients:
Homemade Millet flat bread (gluten & yeast free) (or your favorite gluten free flatbread or bread)
2 carrots diced
2 celery stalks diced
1 colored pepper diced
1/4 onion sliced (or however much you like, that is what I had left over from something else)
2 cloves garlic diced
1 sprig Rosemary chopped
Sea Salt & Pepper
Goat Milk butter (or whatever  butter or oil you prefer to saute)
Vegetable Broth (yeast free, low sodium)
5 peppers to stuff (tops cut off and seeds removed)

Step 1: Saute onions, garlic, carrots, celery, & pepper.  Add salt and pepper. Saute until tender.

Step 2: Break up flatbread and add to veggies. 

Step 3: Add rosemary and vegetable broth.  Add broth a little at a time while stirring until you moisten the flatbread and stuffing begins to bind together.

Step 4: Stuff peppers

Step 5: Bake at 350 until warmed through.  Add a little veggie broth over peppers to prevent drying in oven.

Step 6: Serve and enjoy.

My husband liked this version of stuffing even though it was non traditional.  This was a good substitute that allowed me to have stuffing with everyone else at the table who was eating a traditional stuffing. There are many variations on this recipe.  You can season with your favorites, used different veggies, or your favorite gluten free bread to make stuffing.  Have fun with it.

Challenge #32 - Remembering a New favorite - Parsnips

I tried parsnips for the first time about a year or so ago.  I love them.  I think of them as sort of in between a carrot and potato.  I haven't had them in a few months, for no reason in particular, I just sort of forgot about them.  So last week, I saw some in the store and bought them.  I made them the other night, super simple alternative to mashed potatoes.

Ingredients:
Parsnips
Sea Salt
Pepper
1 tsp butter (or oil, or whatever you choose)
1 clove minced garlic (optional)

Step #1: Peel and cut parsnips into cubes while pot of water is boiling.
Step #2: Boil parsnips until tender
Step #3: Drain and place in boil.  Add reset of the ingredients and mash.
I used my hand masher because I didn't feel like digging out the mixer and then having to clean it.  Either one will work. I enjoyed my parsnip mash a bit more on the rustic side; creamy and chunky at the same time.

On a side note, I also use the hand masher to make guacamole.