Loaded Quinoa Veggie Burgers

These burgers are easy to make and are packed with protein. Here is the original recipe from Can You Stay For Dinner. I usually add spices and/or Organicville BBQ sauce to the mixture for a little more flavour.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
• 1 carrot, diced
• 4 green onions, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed (15oz)
• 1/4 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs
• 1 large organic egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

1. Cook your quinoa by bringing 3/4 cup water to a boil in a small pot. Add quinoa, cover, and reduce heat to low.
2. Cook for about 12-14 minutes, until liquid is absorbed. Set quinoa aside. 
3. In a food processor, pulse carrot until finely chopped. Add the cooked quinoa, green onions, garlic, beans, breadcrumbs, egg, cumin, salt, and pepper and pulse until it is slightly chunky. 
4. With your hands, make four patties.
5. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Cook burgers until browned, about 8 minutes per side.
6. Add your favourite toppings like caramelized onions, sliced avocado, and chipotle aioli!

serves 4


Additional notes

• Look for beans packaged in cans that are BPA free like Eden Organic.

Homemade vegan parmesan cheese

Does it really taste like parmesan cheese? No, but it's scrumptious and much better for you! One of the main ingredients is nutritional yeast, which is full of protein and vitamin B. It can be found in most health food stores. Note: You can buy it in bulk but not all nutritional yeasts contain vitamins. If it is important to you, buy one that is properly labeled.

Sprinkle this topping on your pasta, veggies or popcorn. My toddler will eat just about anything if vegan parmesan is sprinkled on top.

Make a big batch. It lasts a long time. Alternatively, Parma-veg is fantastic. I bought this a few times before I decided to make it at home.

       
Original recipe is from Veg News.com.
 

Ingredients

• 1 cup walnuts
• 1/3 cup nutritional yeast
• 1/3 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/3 teaspoon vegetable seasoning salt (and/or other seasoning like parsley, mustard seeds, dried basil)

Directions

Blend all ingredients in a food processor until it reaches a crumbly consistency.



 

Carob chips (better than chocolate)

Carob is deemed to be a healthy alternative to chocolate, especially since it contains no caffeine. Carob powder looks like cocoa powder and can be found in most health food stores.

These "chocolate chips" can be eaten on their own or used in other recipes like banana bread or chocolate chip cookies. 

Original recipe is from Food.com.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup coconut oil, liquefied (warm slightly in a pot on the stove)
• 2/3 - 3/4 cup carob powder
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract (I prefer alcohol-free)
• maple syrup, to taste (or sweetener of choice)

Directions:

1. On low heat, warm the coconut oil in a small saucepan.
2. Remove from heat and mix in the rest of the ingredients
3. Pour the mixture into a baking dish or glass tupperwear lined with a sheet of wax or parchment paper. Note that the size of the dish will depend on how thick you want your chips to be.
4. Put the dish into the freezer for about 20 minutes to set.
5. With a knife, break carob into chips or chunks. Store them in the fridge in an air-tight container.

Servings Size

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  baking ...

Baked Kale Chips

I'm not a huge fan of kale or most green foods, for that matter. I love baked kale chips and so does my little toddler. I use the Food Network recipe and add other seasoning like powdered garlic, cayenne pepper and vegan parmesan.

I recommend making two batches at a time.

Ingredients

• 1 head kale, washed and thoroughly dried
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Sea salt, for sprinkling

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 275 degrees.
2. Cut kale into 1 1/2-inch pieces. You will want to remove the ribs from the centre as well.
3. Lay the kale on a baking sheet and toss with the olive oil and salt.
4. Bake the kale for about 20 minutes, turning the leaves halfway through. Bake until it is nice and crispy.

Additional Notes

• It's a good idea to buy organic kale since this veggie is on the Dirty Dozen list.
• Dry leaves well after washing and use as little oil as possible to ensure that the kale comes out very crispy.
• My friend Barb bakes for 13 minutes at 350 without turning them. Try it!

          

                           

Babycakes Banana Bread

This banana bread is sooooooooooo good! It freezes well too. I suggest you double the batch (at least) because these go fast.

 

You can find most of the ingredients in a health food store.

 

Adapted from Babycakes NYC.

 

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour (my fave local brand is Cuisine Soleil)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoons xanthan gum
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 2/3 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 2 tablespoons of good quality vanilla (I prefer organic, alcohol-free)
• 1 1/4 cups mashed bananas (about 3 bananas)

 

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Grease loaf pan with oil.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum, salt, cinnamon. Mix it together.
3. Add oil, maple syrup, milk and vanilla and mix again. Fold in bananas.
4. Pour batter into loaf pan, only filling it halfway. Place in the oven.
5. After 20 minutes, check on the loaf and continue baking until it passes the toothpick test.

Additional notes

• Coconut oil needs to be melted in a saucepan first. I try to avoid the microwave but 30 seconds should do the trick in a pinch.
• A mini loaf pan (3.7" x 2.4" ) works well if you have one. I've also used mini muffin pans.
• Initially, I used Magic baking powder (contains aluminum) and Arm & Hammer soda which produced a funny aftertaste. As soon as I bought organic / aluminum-free brands, the taste disappeared.
• Some people are suspicious of xanthan gum or have related food sensitivities. Guar gum is supposed to be a good alternative or try leaving it out completely. Let me know how it goes!
• You can also add 1 cup of vegan chocolate chips or carob chips for extra yumminess.