Mochi

Fall has slowly begun to creep in to our lives and it's not only evident by the leaves changing their colors, but definitely the chill that you feel (or is that just a sign of old age?).

As I write this, I am sitting under a pile of blankets with a warm, comforting bowl of Mochi, prepared the way the Japanese serve Kuzumochi in the summer, but WARM.

For anyone who doesn't know what 'mochi' is, it is a sticky, chewy dessert prevalent in Asia, that is made from pounding steamed sweet rice (a.k.a. glutinous rice) until it stretches and is chewy.
It is the ideal sweet as it is low in additives, diverse, and gluten free!
The Japanese depend on mochi heavily for their tea ceremonies as an accompaniment to macha, but it is eaten widely for celebrations and special occasions (or as a traditional snack).  In Korea it is also used for birthday celebrations, made in a shape like a cake, but many other forms can take shape.

This bowl of mochi is perfect for a chilly day as it's comforting and warm, and texturally complex.

Mochi Bowl
inspired by JustHungry's kuzumochi recipe
(serves 2 small or 1 generous portion)

half a square of Brown Rice Mochi (I used Grainaissance original)
1/4-1/2 c kinako (toasted soy bean powder)
molasses, to taste (*note:  molasses has a bitter/metallic flavor so please use sparingly at first)
anko (adzuki bean paste) (optional)

1.  follow package instructions and toast the mochi in oven.
2.  in a bowl, lay out mochi and anko (if desired), sprinkle the kinako over, and drizzle with some molasses.

Enjoy!

Low Glycemic Gluten Free Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Okay, so I was getting really bummed that I hadn't eaten any rhubarb this summer.  The supermarket was selling the last of the summer's fresh rhubarb for $6 a pound!  I refuted that highway robbery and decided to check out the farmer's market.  Lo and behold, $2 for the necessary bundle.  Thank you local farmers for coming through.
Message of the story:  SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FARMS :)

Now that I'm off my soap box, let's move on.  I had been wanting to experiment with whole grain gluten free baking for a while and had not found a chance to.  The truth is, I don't like making baked goods all the time, whenever I crave them because I usually live alone and ..... you see where this is going?  Yup, if I baked a pie, you'd find me 3 days later, strewn in my living room floor, coming down from a pie hangover with nothing to show for it but an empty pie pan, a guilty conscience and some extra poundage 'round my middle.
I refuse!!! Never again!!! So, I've been trying to be good and only baking when there's gatherings where a dish is required.

Fast forward to present day and while I'm staying with a family, I can now bake things and only eat a SINGLE serving while we all equally share the loot.
Here is my first and last attempt (for this summer) of the classic Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp.  Mind you, I kind of emptied some of my cupboard for this, using up certain things that I had bits of, so feel free to switch out certain things.

Low Glycemic Gluten Free Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
serves 6-8 

filling
3 c rhubarb, washed, trimmed and diced into 1/2 inch slices
3 c strawberries, washed, tops removed and quartered
2/3 c coconut palm sugar
1/3 c fresh squeezed orange juice
zest of an orange OR 1 tsp dried lemon zest
1/4 c tapioca flour
2 Tbsp potato starch
1/4 tsp cinnamon

topping
1/4 c sorghum flour
1/4 c teff flour
1/2 c rolled oats OR quick oats
1/8 c potato starch
1/8 c tapioca flour
1/2 c hazelnuts, roughly chopped
1/8 c flaxseed meal
1/4+ c coconut palm sugar (adjusting to your liking)
1/4 c earth balance
1/4-1/2 tsp sea salt

1.  Preheat oven to 350.  prepare a 8 x 8 baking dish.
2.  In a large mixing bowl, mix in all the filling ingredients.  pour into the baking dish and let it sit.
3.  In a small bowl, mix all the dry ingredients of the topping.  mix in the earth balance with your hands (finger tips) until the "butter" is mixed in throughout the flour, creating course crumb like bread crumbs.
4.  Spread the topping evenly over the filling and bake for 45-55 minutes, depending on oven.  Pull out when the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbly and thickened.
5.  Let it cool a bit, and serve with your favorite vegan ice cream!

I challenge you to only eat a SINGLE serving!  :)

Reboot Your System! Fruity Kale Smoothie

I know I've been away for so long!  I've been busy getting settled into my new city, where my initial living situation fell through.  I was left with the task of finding a new place, and thankfully a family at my church graciously have let me live with them.... and invade their kitchen.
I've found that if a kitchen is well situated and well stocked, organized and the citizens that own the kitchen willing to be adventurous with food, I am a happy, content little thing.

So~  because my hiatus has been so long, here are 2 posts.
First:  Fruity Kale Smoothie.  This is my attempt to make a smoothie that my best friend and I tried at a vegan restaurant in Toronto called FRESH.  If you've ever been there, you'll know that they're amazing, catering to food allergies but also to the gourmet vegan pallet.  The salad I had was great, but I must say, the winner that day was their quinoa onion rings.  Oh man!  It's a good thing I didn't order them because ..... slam!  I would have ordered like.... 3 orders.

Anyway, here's the great smoothie my friend had: fruity, healthy and so fresh! (see how I worked that pun in? hehehe)

Fruity Kale Smoothie
serves 2 large OR 4 regular 

1 bunch red (or green) kale, chopped chunky (I don't use lacinato/tuscan kale)
1 lb strawberries, washed and tops removed
1 small pineapple, peeled and cores removed, chopped roughly

1.  in a Vitamix OR high speed/power blender, put pineapple and strawberries in.  blend until fairly liquidy, then add kale.
2.  slowly turn up the speed and blend until kale is not in chunks.  on a Vitamix, ultimately, speed 5 for about 1-2 minutes.  the smoothie should be brown.

drink and enjoy!

Gluten Free Ginger-Banana Bread!

Oh man.  It has been a couple of crazy busy weeks, and it doesn't look like it's going to stop.  Between having dinner dates with friends for last minute catch up before I move, to going on spontaneous adventures with friends, the weekends have been jam packed.  When I woke up this morning, I had slept 4 hours for the last couple of days, and my body was definitely exhausted.  On days like this, what does my body want more than anything? (other than more sleep) SUGAR!!!!!  But~ being the person that I am, I'm not just going to go guzzling down a ton of sugar.  Exhaustion doesn't want to throw even the simplest ingredients together for pancakes, and jam on toast won't cut it.  So what do I do?  I pulled out the Ginger-Banana bread with Walnut and Chocolate Chips (optional) that I had made last weekend on a whim to use up bananas and had frozen.
Did it do the job?  OH YEAH BABY!!!!  Nutty, chocolatey, and completely gluten free (and whole wheat to boot) it was just what the doctor (and when I say doctor, I mean my body) ordered.

I adapted this recipe from a couple different recipes, and in cutting fat and sugar contents have made it my own.  I find that it's not too sweet and is perfect for that high tea accompaniment.

Gluten Free Ginger-Banana Bread (with nut and chocolate options)

Dry:

1/4c buckwheat flour

3/4c sorghum flour

1/2c teff flour

1/2+1/8c potato starch

1/4+1/8c tapioca flour

 1tsp xanthan gum

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 c coconut palm sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

Wet:

1/2 tsp baking powder (mixed into the banana mash)

3 Tbsp  olive oil 

1/4c earth balance, melted

1/4c MINUS 2 Tbsp of molasses, at room temp

1/4+1/8c warm water

2 c ripe bananas, mashed (can use frozen;  just defrost and let runny juices drain)

1tsp vanilla extract

Extra Options:

**more spice: 1/4 tsp cloves, 1/2 tsp allspice, 1/4 tsp cardamom (choose 1 or try all! experiment!)

**add ins:  

2 c rough chopped walnuts 

1-1 1/2 c vegan chocolate chips

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease a 9 x 5 loaf pan.  

2.  Mix together dry ingredients in a large bowl and set aside. (I like the mix the walnuts and chocolate chips at this point, into the dry batter because I heard the flour mix coating the chips and nuts prevents them all from sinking to the bottom of the pan)

3.  Mix together wet ingredients.  Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients, making sure to incorporate mixture with slower, large strokes just until there are no more dry pockets of flour.  Pour into loaf pan, and put into the oven for 55 min.-1 hour, until a toothpick or chopstick inserted into the center comes out clean (melted chocolate doesn't count). 

4.  Turn out of the pan, let it cool.  Serve immediately if eating fresh, or cool completely before freezing it in an airtight plastic bag or container.  

ENJOY!

The Recipe Slam! Part 2

Okay, so I promised to upload 3 recipes total, but I just couldn't help myself and I'm uploading 4.  I know, wut wut! Hope you enjoy. :)

Veganized Okinawan Taco Rice
(taco "meat" inspired by PPK's Ancho Lentil Tacos)

4-6 servings of rice (prepare according to package instructions OR purchase from local restaurant)
9-15 leaves of iceberg lettuce, shredded
4 tomatoes, small diced OR 1 pint of cherry tomatoes, halved
2-3 avocados, sliced or diced*
*avocado can be replaced with vegan cheese or favorite vegan cheese sauce)

Taco Meat Ingredients:
1 1/2 c dry green lentils, cooked in water for 25-30 min OR 3 1/4 c canned, cooked lentils, drained
1 large onion, small diced
4-6 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 tsp dried oregano
3 tsp chili powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
3/4 tsp ground coriander
3/4 tsp salt
2-3 Tbsp soy sauce
1/3 c tomato paste
1/4+ c water
3 Tbsp hot sauce

1.  cook lentils, and prep onions and garlic.  mix spices from oregano to salt together and set aside.
2.  In a large skillet, cook onions and garlic in some oil for 3 min.  Pour in spice mix and sautee for 30 seconds.
3.  Pour in lentils and the remaining ingredients, mixing well to incorporate.  Taste to adjust levels of soy sauce, spices, water and heat for preferred levels of flavor and thickness. Cook for another 5 minutes and turn off heat.
4.  Assemble plate:
on a plate, spread out a serving of rice like a rice pizza layer.  Next comes the taco "meat", then lettuce, tomato and avocado (or vegan cheese/sauce).
5.  To eat, normally the Japanese mix it up, like a taco salad, and consume, but it's up to you.  Just make sure you get all the layers in your mouth at once.  Yeah baby!

Buffalo Chickpea Salad
(inspired by PPK's Ranch Salad with Buffalo Tempeh)

3 cans of chickpeas, drained
1-5 oz. bottle of Frank's Hot Sauce
1/2 c vegan mayo (I used Follow Your Heart's Veganaise Gourmet Garlic flavor)
2 Tbsp soy sauce (I used Bragg's Liquid Aminos)
2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
3 Tbsp oregano
1 green onion OR small bunch of chives, thinly sliced

1.  roughly mash chickpeas (you can always pulse coursely in a food processor).
2.  throw remaining ingredients in with the chickpeas.

To serve, I placed my Buffalo Chickpeas onto a bed of lemon juice massaged kale, but you can eat it any way you like.  In a sammy, over rice, on pizza (woah now, gettin' crazay!).  Get creative, and enjoy!

The Recipe Slam! Part 1

I know, it's been a whole month since I posted last.  It's been nuts!  I had to move my stuff to Rochester, then move out of my apartment, move in with a friend temporarily, and now, I've had to move into my last temporary nest until I finally move completely to Rochester (I'm from NY by the way) so it's been a crazy month, but things are looking a little settled, so I thought I'd make up for lost time with the following recipes:

Quick PB frosting
Korean Squash Soup
Veganized Okinawa Style Taco Rice

If that isn't enough, I'll give you a teaser for a dessert I'm working on for my best friend: Vegan PB Smores Pie!  (Wipe your drool off your chin). :)
I've also found a couple of awesome new vegan websites:
www.artisanveganlife.com
www.thugkitchen.com (mostly vegan, but not completely)

If you wonder if ANYONE speaks like the author of thug kitchen, the answer my friend is YES.  Before you doubt my credibility, you must realize that I am related to one such "flamboyant" speaker: a.k.a. my sister.  So boo ya!
and~ without further ado, here are the recipes:

Quick Peanut Butter Frosting
(for a 5 second frosting fix)

smooth, salted PB
liquid sweetener of choice: agave, honey (not vegan) or maple syrup

1.  it's easy: 2:1 ratio of PB to sweetener (make that 2: 0.5 if you want it less sweet).  stir well to incorporate.  I find that you can chill the frosting to make it more stiff, but because of the sugar, the frosting is stiff enough after stirring for regular consumption.

Korean Squash Soup
(adapted from Maangchi's recipe)

*equipment needed:
blender (immersion or high speed)
3 small mixing bowls
measuring cups/spoons
large stock pot
plate
wet tea towel

ingredients:
2 small butternut squash, washed well, halved and seeds & stringy bits removed
1/4 c sugar (I used organic cane sugar) plus extra
2 c Sweet rice flour (I used Mochiko)
1/4 tsp salt
3/4+ c hot water
1/2 tsp mugwort powder (optional)
1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)

1.  In a large stock pot, place cleaned, halved and seeded squash in and cover with water. (if you find the squash too big to fit, quarter the squash, it's fine.)  Boil for 20-30 minutes or until tender.  Remove from pot and let cool.
2.  While squash is boiling, mix rice flour with salt.  ***Here is where the options come in***
**IF you want to just have white rice cake balls, DO NOT DIVIDE THE FLOUR.  Just pour the hot water in and mix until a ball of dough can be formed.  set aside with the moist tea towel or plastic wrap to keep moist.
**IF you want TRI-COLORED RICE CAKES:
divide the flour mix into 3 bowls each with 2/3 c of flour mix.
bowl 1-white rice cakes: mix with 1/4+ c hot water, until a ball of dough can be formed.  wrap in plastic and set aside.
bowl 2-green rice cakes: add 1/2 tsp mugwort powder, 1/2 tsp sugar and 1/4+ c hot water (continue like above)
bowl 3-brown rice cakes: add 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp sugar and 1/4+ c hot water (continue like above)
3.  Once squash is cooled, scoop out flesh into pot (for immersion blender) or a standing blender and blend with 2 cups of water until smooth.  Pour the mixture back into the pot with 2-3 cups more water (depending on how thick you like it), adding 1/4 c sugar as well.  Bring to a boil.
4.  While the soup is being brought to boiling, begin rolling the rice cakes into little balls the size of marbles.  You can make them larger if you like, but keep in mind that the rice cakes expand some while cooking.  When the soup is boiling, drop the rice cakes in.  Cook for another 5-10 minutes until the rice cakes float (you may have to help it along a little bit by stirring to see if cakes float as the soup can be somewhat thick).
Garnish with some pine nuts or serve as is.  Enjoy!

Healthy Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

I'm sure you thought, "What?!?" when you read cinnamon rolls with 'healthy' attached to it.  It's true though!  I found this recipe looking for a healthier way to make cinnamon rolls, and I've modified it to make it more like pumpkin pie.  mmmmm~

*gluten free, nut free (optional)

Healthy Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
adapted from Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen's recipe

dry ingredients:
2 1/2-3 c raw buckwheat groats
1 c tapioca flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1/2-1 tsp nutmeg (depending on how much you like nutmeg)
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves

wet ingredients:
1 c canned pumpkin puree
1 c unsweetened applesauce
1/3 c+1Tbsp maple syrup
1/4 c coconut oil or canola/grapeseed oil
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1/4-1/2 c non-dairy milk

filling:
3 Tbsp room temperature earth balance (or coconut oil)
1/3-1/2 c coconut palm sugar or brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2-1 c chopped pecans (optional)

frosting:
3/4 mashed sweet potato, still warm (I used Japanese sweet potato)
1/4 c maple syrup
1/4 c powdered sugar
2 Tbsp coconut oil
2 Tbsp unsweetened applesauce
2 Tbsp arrowroot powder
2 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp salt

1.  In a high speed food processor, blend buckwheat groats until they are a fine flour.  Sift, and measure out 3 cups.  Now mix the remaining dry ingredients together.
2.  Now mix the wet ingredients EXCEPT milk, in food processor/blender to make it smooth.  Mix it in with dry ingredients.  Mix well.  Dough should be sticky.  If the dough looks too dry and is not mildly sticky, then begin adding the milk in NOW, beginning with 1/4 c.
3.  Onto a tapioca floured surface, turn dough out, and sprinkling more flour on top of dough, begin rolling out.  The trick here is to flip the whole dough sheet over once in a while and flouring gently to keep it from sticking.  If it still sticks, it's okay. Roll out the dough to a rectangle shape, about 1/2 inch in thickness.
**caution: do not over flour the surface, as it could make the dough too tough.
preheat the over NOW to 350.  And grease a cake pan with oil or a little vegan butter.
4.  Now's the fun part.  Except the oil/butter (and nuts if you're adding nuts), throw together the rest of the filling.  Using a spatula or a spreading device (spoons work too), spread a thin layer of earth balance or coconut oil on the whole dough sheet.  Then sprinkle evenly the sugar mixture, sprinkling on nuts afterward.
5.  Starting from the edge towards you, begin lifting gently and folding over the edge, rolling up the dough evenly.  Now, make a roll!  Good Job!
5.  Cut the roll up into 3 inch rolls.  You should end up with 8-10 (if there's more or less, that's fine, just grease another cake pan and bake em in there!)
(optional:  you could also get extra fancy by brushing on a bit of vegan butter or extra oil on the top to make a nice golden brown, but I didn't bother)
6.  Bake for 20-26 minutes, watching for goldenness.
7.  To make the frosting, blitz everything in a blender/food processor until smooth.
8.  Frost and consume rolls.  SO GOOD!!!!