October Crockpot -- a rich creamy vegan stew

With the sudden change in the weather it is truly autumn. Rainy, chilly, and grey. So, this. Not that I don't make crockpots in the summer. But this time, I really mean it.

The use of chickpea flour from our local Indian super market gives this a mellow creaminess and body that is quite delightful. I have become a raging chickpea flour aficionado. I adore it. Adore, I tell you. Anyway, these creamy delicious dish is awesomeness in a pot.

The onion, cabbage, and cauliflower melt away to nothing, so this stew is about the split chickpeas, the creamy broth, and the carrot medallions. Pretty!!

Every time my husband eats a bowl of this he declares it 'delicious'. That never gets old.

I will definitely use chickpea flour to make the broth again. Inspired!!

ingredients:

2 tbsp coconut oil
1 onion, finely diced
3 cups green cabbage very finely chopped
2 cups channa dall, split chickpeas (I used raw, dried, well rinsed split chickpeas. If you don't wanna, you can use canned whole chickpeas. I'm okay with that.)

2 cups white cauliflower, crumbled and very finely chopped

4 carrots -- 3 yellow and 1 orange, narrow and cut into discs (I used what I had from the market)

1 tbsp cumin
3 tsp sea salt
1 cup water + 1/2 cup chickpea flour mixed together

6 cups water

Split yellow pea crock pot -- vegan stew

This shy little number is comforting and enjoyable. No strong flavours, just savoury, mellow, deliciousness. The Indian split yellow peas do not have a strong flavour like other split yellow peas, and the vegetables and peas just work together beautifully. A little cumin and sea salt perk them up, making for a simple, tasty dish that is comfort food to me. Perfect with a side salad and some chickpea flour flat bread. Devoured with delight by my 6 year old, and enjoyed with evident pleasure by my husband, both of whom can eschew slightly more esoteric flavours. Nice.




2 tbsp coconut oil
1 onion, finely diced
5 cups green cabbage, finely diced
2 cups split yellow peas (toor dal kori)

2 cups finely chopped celery
2 cups finely diced carrot


4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cumin
6 cups water


directions:

1. turn the crockpot on and let it heat
2. load in the ingredients in the order listed
3. cook on high for 6 hours
4. stir, and taste, adding salt and pepper if needed.

Warming Winter Vegetable and Lentil Crockpot

I was going to be at work all day, and Papa and Nana were coming to play. So, knowing that Papa is a huge lentil fan, I loaded up my crockpot with a bunch of goodies. The resulting concoction is so flavourful and sweet and sour and savoury and spicy. The flavour is not overwhelming, but rather symbiotic. Everything about it is comforting and delicious. Try it. You'll like. The sweetness of sweet potato with the brightness of lime and sundried tomato, and the warmth of ginger. I kinda, you know, love it already. My husband made garlic toast out of our almond flour/coconut flour bread to go with this and it was fab beyond all reckoning.

ingredients:

1 cup finely chopped shallots
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion
2 cups very finely chopped green cabbage
1/4 cup finely chopped sundried tomatoes

2 cups massoor lentils

2 cups frozen green peas

1/4 cup almond butter
1/4 cup coconut butter

1 cup diced celery hearts
2 cups diced carrots


4 cups diced sweet potatoes


4 tsp sea salt
2 tbps oregano
black pepper
1 tsp chile powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp ground ginger

9 cups water (I add boiling)

2 tbsp lime juice


directions:

1. layer the ingredients in the order listed. I combine the almond butter, coconut butter, lime juice, and seasonings with 1 cup of boiling water and pour it on, then pour on the rest of the water.
2. cook (I did it on High for 6 hours)
3. turn off and after stirring thoroughly, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, and add water if needed
4. serve or let the flavour mature and serve the next day
5. Today we are serving this with garlic toasts made from our 'almond flour and coconut flour bread'.

Vegetables Baked in a Cast Iron Dutch Oven

My beautiful sister and her beautiful family stayed with us recently, and it was joyous. One of the meals we made was this rustic baked vegetable dish, served with fresh spelt flour bread and fresh tomatoes and basil as a side salad. It was fantastic. This is one of those meals that somehow transcends and is far far more than the sum of it's parts. I highly recommend this as a scrumptious rustic meal especially if you want to impress someone with deliciousness. I made it in a cast iron dutch oven -- Nemesis, for those of you who remember my red pot. I imagine you can bake it in a large casserole dish, too, or a stainless steel dutch oven. Just make sure whatever you use has a lid. You can also vary the vegetables, but the ones chosen married together beautiful for maximum savoury awesomeness. Mostly, they were the vegetables that we found at the farmer's market in the morning. A tad opportunistic, perhaps? I'll never deny it.  In a word? Heavenly. A rustic peasant meal fit for an emperor. A naked emperor, perhaps ...?

I wish that you could smell how amazing, delectable, and savoury the house smelled when this was ready ...

ingredients:

2 tbsp coconut oil -- unrefined, extra virgin, organic, etc
1 medium onion, small dice
4-5 large green cabbage leaves, chopped
3 cups split chickpeas, cooked, or whole chickpeas cooked (or canned, rinse, drained)
1 kholrabi peeled and diced
4 celery ribs, diced
2 medium carrots, diced
3 large green zucchinis, diced

2-3 tbsp herbe de provence
4 tsp sea salt
1 can coconut milk (400 ml, full fat, organic)
1 cup water

directions:

heat oven to 345 and put your dish in to melt your coconut oil.

1. In a dutch oven I melted 2 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil, and then threw in my diced onion.
2. I layered on 4 or 5 large green cabbage leaves that I had cut fairly finely
3. on top of this went 3 cups of split chickpeas that had been previously cooked. Whole chickpeas would be fine, too. Cooked or canned (well rinsed).
4. Next I layered a diced kholrabi
5. On top of this went 4 diced celery ribs
6. Next went 2 diced medium carrots -- fresh from the ground and wonderfully tender
7. This was topped with 3 large zucchinis, diced
8. All this was sprinkled with 2-3 tbsp herbe de provence and 4 tsp sea salt
9. I then poured 1 cup of coconut milk on it, which washed the herbs and salt through everything
10. I baked it covered for 2 1/2 hours at 345
11. Then I stirred it and added 1 cup of water, and stirred again
12. I then baked it for another 30-45 minutes at 345, lid still on.

Fantastic ....

Remember to layer and not stir until after it has cooked for most of the cooking time. That's my secret I will share with you.

Flavourful Vegetable Soup

Weary travellers arriving need simple and delicious fare that won't keep them up. This definitely fit the bill with a fresh loaf of spelt bread fresh from the oven.

ingredients:

2 tbsp coconut oil

1 onion finely diced
1 cup  purple cabbage finely chopped
1/4 cup dried mushrooms, finely crumbled

3 cups split chickpeas, soaked but not cooked
3 cups green peas

1/4 cup amaranth
1/4 cup buckwheat groats
1/4 cup milllet

1 kohlrabi, peeled and diced (approx 2 cups)

1 large carrot finely diced (approx 1 1/2 cup)
3/4 cup celery finely  diced

2 cups zucchini diced
4 cups sweet potato diced

4 tsp sea salt
8 cups boiling water


directions:

1. layer all the ingredients in the crockpot and let it cook. Pour the water on after you've added the sea salt btw.
2. stir, and season to taste

Delicious served with fresh baked bread ...

Savoury but sweet Chickpea flour veggie Dinner cake -- vegan, gluten free, grain free, delicious

It's pretty much delicious, and that's about all I can say. My son calls it pasta. Good for you, and good tasting. Does it get any better than that?

ingredients:



2 cup carrot, coarsely pureed
2 cups green cabbage, coarsely pureed
4 cups sweet potato, coarsely pureed
1 medium onions, coursely pureed

2 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil
1 tsp sea salt
black pepper



3 cups water warm water
1/4 cup ground chia seeds
1/4 cup ground flax meal
1 tsp sea salt
black pepper
1 tsp chili pepper
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 cups chick pea flour

1/2 tsp baking soda



directions:

1. sauté the onion and garlic in the coconut oil
2. add the shredded sweet potato and carrot and 1 tsp sea salt, and  sauté
3. meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the ground chia seeds and ground flax seeds with the hot water and let sit for 10 minutes. Mix in the seasonings, cider vinegar,  chickpea flour, and baking soda
4. mix with a whisk!
5. when the shredded veggie mix is cooked, add it to the batter, and combine well
6. pour into a greased 3 L glass baking dish
7. bake at 345 for 75 minutes

Meatcake -- a vegan, gluten free, grain free, delicious piece of goodness

We're off to my in-laws for Easter Dinner. Which means ham. Which means no thanks. Soooo, we shall bring meatcake. It gets its protein from such goodies as pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and coconut, and the flavour is all savoury deliciousness. Calling it meatcake is just a running joke in our family. Sorry about that.

Just an fyi, the meatcake was enjoyed by all.

3 cups diced carrots
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green cabbage
1 pint grape tomatoes
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp sea salt
black pepper



1 cup sunflower seeds, soaked in water with sea salt for at least 4 hours
1 cup pumpkin seeds, soaked in water with sea salt for at least 4 hours

1/4 cup chia seeds, finely ground
1 cup shredded coconut finely ground

2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp thyme
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 cup water


directions:

1. soak the sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds for at least 4 hours or over night, then drain and rinse
2. saute the vegetables in the coconut oil with sea salt
3. puree the rinsed seeds, and add the other ingredients
4. puree until smooth
5. pour into 2 small 8 x 8 silicone pans and bake for 1 hour at 345

Giant Lima Beans with Cabbage and Sweet Potato -- mellow rich crock pot

Another decadent crockpot. Yum!!!!

2 tbsp finely minced garlic
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion
4 cups giant limas
500 g frozen green peas

6 cups finely chopped green cabbage
6 cups diced sweet potato


1/2 cup coconut butter
1/2 cup almond butter
4 cups hot water

4 tsp sea salt
black pepper
1 tbsp rosemary
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder

at the end add 2 tbsp lime juice


directions:

1. layer the ingredients
2. combine the almond butter, coconut butter, water, sea salt, chili powder, cumin, pepper and pour over the ingredients, sprinkle with rosemary
3. cook on high for 6 hours
4. add the lime juice and stir in

Savoury Tomato Chickpea Flour Cake

It's kinda like polenta.

ingredients:


2 cup carrot
4 cups sweet potato
1 medium onions



2 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil
1 tsp sea salt
black pepper
1 tsp chili powder
3 cups water tomato sauce
1 cup water

1/2 cup raw cashews ground
1/4 cup raw white sesame seeds, ground


1/4 cup ground chia seeds
1/4 cup ground flax meal
1 tsp sea salt
black pepper


2 cups chick pea flour

1/2 tsp baking soda



directions:

1. process the veggies in a food processor until course
2. add the veggies to a pan with coconut oil, salt, pepper, and 3 cups tomato sauce
3. once veggies are cooked to softness, add in the seeds, chickpea flour, and baking soda
4. mix with a whisk!
5.
6. pour into a greased 3 L glass baking dish
7. bake at 375 for 60 minutes

Nemesis makes dinner -- vegan chickpea veggie bake

2 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil
2 tbsp very finely minced garlic
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cups green cabbage, finely chopped
4 cups chickpeas, soaked but not cooked
3 cups frozen green peas
2  cups chopped celery
2  cup chopped carrots

4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin
black pepper
1 tbsp rosemary

1/2 cup coconut butter
1/2 cup almond butter
2 cups hot water
4 cups tomato sauce (I get mine from the freezer)

3 cups steamed chopped broccoli


1. melt the coconut oil in a large casserole or dutch oven -- i use the nemesis
1. layer the ingredients up to the carrots
2. sprinkle the seasonings on top
3. in a large bowl combine the almond butter, coconut butter, hot water, and tomato sauce
4. pour the sauce on top
5. cover and bake at 345 for 2 hours
6. remove from the oven, stir well, and then add the broccoli
7. serve

yum!

Savoury Chickpea Flour Dinner Cake -- gluten free, vegan, and super delicious

ingredients:

For my four year old, this strikes the same place in his belly as a square of lasagna would, and he devours it both with gusto and greed. It's a good little piece to build a meal around if you are so inclined, bring some terrific veggies and lots of good vegetarian protein and fat to the equation. Tonight we will side it with some baked squash, some broccoli, and some homemade purple sauerkraut.


2 cup shredded carrot
4 cups shredded sweet potato
2 medium onions, finely diced
1 garlic clove, finely minced
2 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil
1 tsp sea salt
black pepper


1/2 cup raw cashews ground
1/4 cup raw white sesame seeds, ground


3 cups water warm water
1/4 cup ground chia seeds
1/4 cup ground flax meal
1 tsp sea salt
black pepper
1 tsp chili pepper
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 cups chick pea flour

1/2 tsp baking soda



directions:

1. sauté the onion and garlic in the coconut oil
2. add the shredded sweet potato and carrot and 1 tsp sea salt, and  sauté
3. meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the ground chia seeds and ground flax seeds with the hot water and let sit for 10 minutes. Mix in the seasonings, cider vinegar,  chickpea flour, and baking soda
4. mix with a whisk!
5. when the shredded veggie mix is cooked, add it to the batter, and combine well
6. pour into a greased 3 L glass baking dish
7. bake at 345 for 90 minutes

More Soup! Here I go again ... Vegan, hearty, delicious

In search of the perfect bowl of soup. I want it to be a meal in a bowl -- rich, satisfying, and utterly delicious. This definitely fits the bill.

I mean, seriously. I don't know if I can properly describe the exquisite aroma and flavour of this soup. You'll just have to come over and eat it. Or make some yourself.

xoxo

ingredients:

3 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil
2 tbsp finely minced garlic
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion

2 cups dupuy lentils
1/4 cup finely crumbled dried mushrooms
2 cups very finely chopped green cabbage

1/4 cup coconut butter
1/4 cup almond butter

3 cups diced carrots
6 cups diced sweet potato

4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tbsp marjoram
2 tbsp oregano
1/4 tsp fennel seed


8 cups water


after:

2 tbsp lime juice
2 cups water
salt and pepper to taste


directions:

1. layer the ingredients in the order listed in your crockpot
2. reserve the stuff under 'after' until it's done cooking
3. cook
4. stir and add the 'after' stuff
5. serve
6. like most food of this ilk, it's great after it's had time to meld. Eat it with joy the next day.

Vegetable and Lentil Soup -- vegan, satisfying, delicious dinner

So, here, once again, we are. Crockpot working hard and me resting on my laurels. Papa Ed is coming over tomorrow, and apparently he likes lentil soup. So, I made some. The thing is, the flavour combination in this is extraordinary. It's definitely more than the sum of its parts. Wish I could share it with you. This makes a batch big enough to fill my crockpot. If yours is little, divide the recipe in half. Or make the whole thing and invite someone over to share. So good.

ingredients:

3 tbsp extra virgin unrefined organic coconut oil
2 tbsp finely minced garlic
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion
2 cups very finely chopped green cabbage

2 cups du puy lentils

2 cups frozen green peas

1/4 cup almond butter
1/4 cup coconut butter

2 cups diced carrots

6 cups diced sweet potatoes

1 cup diced broccoli hearts

4 tsp sea salt
2 tbps oregano
black pepper

9 cups water (I add boiling)

2 tbsp lime juice


directions:

1. layer the ingredients in the order listed, reserving the lime juice
2. cook (I did it on High for 4 hours)
3. turn off and add the lime juice, stirring thoroughly to make sure the coconut butter and almond butter are fully incorporated
4. serve or let the flavour mature and serve the next day
5. I will definitely serve this with homemade rolls or garlic bread. But it would be great with not-bread toast (plain or savoury) as well.

Autumn Miso Soup 'egg drop' or poached egg soup

I was inspired to make an autumn miso soup. Here's what I came up with:

mostly vegetables and poached egg for my 4 year old

and the way I enjoy it myself, egg poached

and egg dropped

with applicable garnish of course

ingredients:

2 tbsp coconut oil
1 medium onion
2 cloves of garlic

4 medium carrots -- 2 cups diced
4 medium 'daikon' -- approx 4 cups chunky
3 small sweet potatoes -- approx 3 cups chunky


directions:

1. sauté the onion and garlic in the coconut oil
2. add the carrots, daikon, and sweet potato, and cook thoroughly


-------------------------------------------------
ingredients:

1 sheet of kombu
1/4 cup dried mushrooms
2 tbsp tamari

12 cups water


directions:

1. simmer the ingredients together, then strain and reserve

makes 12 cups of broth

--------------------------------------------
To make 4 servings:

take:

2 - 4 tbsp miso
4 eggs
4 cups of broth
1/3 of cooked vegetables

 black sesame sesame seeds
green onions, finely sliced


directions:

1. bring 2 cups of broth to a boil and either poach each egg separately, or stir in the egg and cook it as 'egg drop'
2. meanwhile  heat up the other 2 cups of broth with the vegetables
3. in a bowl, combine the miso with a little broth, then add to the broth and vegetables, careful not to  boil
4. divide the egg and egg cooking broth equally into 4 bowls, then ladle the miso and vegetables on top
5. garnish with sliced green onion and black sesame seeds
enjoy!

super yummy

Gluten free dinner pastry -- vegan, grain free, and full of sautéed vegetables. What's not to love???

These little dinner pastries were a fun change for us. They are pretty easy to make, although the dough is a little sticky, and must be rolled on parchment or silicone, and you can't make it too thin. They were a big hit in our household, and as far as filling goes, the sky is the limit.

dough:

1 cup water
2 tbsp evco

1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda

2 tbsp arrowroot flour
2 tbsp ground chia seeds

1 cup almond flour

1/2 cup coconut flour



filling:

2 tbsp evco
1 medium onion
1 bunch celery hearts (2 cups)
2 small yellow zucchinis
1 tiny carrot for colour

black sesame seeds

honey
soy sauce
lemon juice

500 g broccoli florets (3 cups)

1. prepare the dough and set aside
2. prepare the veggie mixture
3. divide the dough into 10 equal balls, and roll each into a flat circle about 10 cm in diameter
4. scoop a few tablespoons of the mixture into the centre of each circle and fold over carefully
5. bake on a lined baking sheet at 345 for 30 minutes

Nemesis Makes Dinner -- gluten free, vegan, vegerrific and palate pleasing

I managed to throw a bunch of stuff in a pot, throw it in the oven, and have it come out and be enjoyed by everyone. That's a bit of a win. Colin even had two helpings. Huzzah!!

ingredients:

2 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil
2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
2 medium onions, finely chopped

2 cups black lentils -- they are called 'beluga' lentils
1/4 cup quinoa
1/4 cup crumbled dried mushrooms -- I don't think it matters too  much what kind you use

2 cups roughly chopped carrots

2 cups roughly chopped celery (I use celery hearts, but probably any celery will do)

3 cups halved and sliced zucchini
6 cups diced tomatoes (do not use romas or plum tomatoes -- you'll need juicy ones)

1/4 cup almond butter

1 tbsp sea salt
1 tsp chili powder

1 can coconut milk -- I highly recommend using organic and stay away from 'lite'

1/4 cup roasted buckwheat groats -- aka kasha
2 tbsp nutritional yeast


directions:

in a large casserole (or cast iron dutch oven such as Nemesis)
1. layer the ingredients in the order listed and do not stir
2. finish it off with the sprinkled kasha and nutritional yeast and bake for at least 90 minutes
3. stir well then serve with whatever turns your crank -- we had raw spinach leaves

Because only the liquid from the tomatoes and other vegetables, as well as the coconut milk, will be used in this, it will be extra flavourful.