Butternut Torte

This is a very tasty and easy torte to make. You can use it as the center of a light meal or as a savory side dish.

1 Butternut squash (medium)
1/2 block tofu (drained)
1/2 cup quick oats
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sesame seeds raw
2 Tbsp. onion powder or 1 tsp. if you're not a onion lover
1 tsp. garlic powder (1/2 tsp. if you're not a garlic lover)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
Salt to taste

Peel squash and cut into chunks. Put squash in blender with the tofu, the sesame seeds and with 3/4 cups water and process till smooth.
Scrape into a bowl and add the rest of the ingredients, blending well till you have a soft dough-like paste, it should not be runny.
Line a baking dish with parchment paper and brush it with olive oil. Spread the paste on top of the oiled parchment paper.
Bake at 400º F for 30 minutes. If it is not golden brown yet, lower to 375º F and bake a little longer. Serve topped with a sauce or with your favorite vegan white or pimento "cheese." Add a salad and a light dessert and you've got an easy meal!

Variation:
If you would like to turn this into a more substantial dish, you can stuff it with any of our strips recipes.

 

Pathlights. . .Worthwhile exploring!

Whole Grain Crunchy Patties

When you are vegan, you never have enough recipes for meat substitutes. You need a variety of them to keep your menus fresh and to prevent boredom! This is an easy and tasty recipe that you can use in a variety of ways, as a side dish, for sandwiches, and I'm sure you will think of others!

1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup sesame seeds
4 slices 12-grain or 10-grain sandwich bread (homemade or bought)
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. Italian Seasoning (or favorite herbs)
Sal to taste
1 Tbsp. onion powder (if you are not an onion lover, use 1 tsp.)
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
2 Tbsp. sweet paprika powder
1 Tbsp. olive oil plus more to cook
3/4 cup water or more if needed
3 Tbsp. cornstarch

In a bowl and using some of the water, wet the bread till it's soft. Add the rest of the ingredients, blending well till you have a dough.
The dough must be soft but not mushy. Heat a skillet that has barely been "painted" with olive oil, take spoonfuls of the dough and drop into the skillet and cook
till golden brown on both sides.
Yield depends on the size you make them!

Pathlights. . .Worthwhile exploring!

Grain and Potato Strips

We have made many different kinds of strips but these are really delicious! Strips go well as a side dish with just about anything and they are a wonderful addition to pasta, rice, wraps, pita sandwiches and even quick stir fries (if you make them beforehand), their great versatility makes them ideal for your vegan recipe repertoire! Here is our latest version of strips. Enjoy!


1 cup brown rice, cooked
1/2 cup quick oats
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 crusty bread (could be a sub)
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup sweet peppers, chopped
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
1 carrot, peeled and sliced
1 stalk celery, washed and sliced
2 1/2 sweet paprika powder
3 full Tbsp. cornstarch
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
1 tbsp. olive oil

Cut the bread in pieces and put in a large bowl with some water to soften. Meanwhile, in a blender with a 1/2 cup water, process the peppers, carrot, onion, potatoes, celery, rice and sunflower seeds until you have a paste.
Scrape out of the blender and add to the mushy bread. Mix well and add all the other ingredients, blending thoroughly.
Form patties. Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 375º F for 15 minutes on one side, then flip and bake 15 more minutes on the opposite side.
Bring out of the oven and let cool. Cut into strips. Put into your favorite tomato sauce (spaghetti type sauce) and let simmer a bit until the strips soak in the juice of the sauce and the flavors blend.

Serve!

Reach Beyond the Shadows of Your Fears

Edamame Rice

2 cups brown rice, cooked
1 1/2 cups Edamame soy beans

In a small pot, and using 1/2 cup water cook the soy beans for 3 minutes until completely thawed. Drain and add to the rice.

Then add to the rice the following:

1/2 cup sweet red peppers, chopped
1/4 cup sweet green peppers, chopped
Salt to taste
1 tsp. onion powder (or up to 1 Tbsp. according to your love of onions)
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. turmeric
1 1/2 Tbsp. sweet paprika powder
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup water

Mix all the ingredients well, lower to low heat and cover. Let it cook for about 20 minutes.

Add a delicious green salad and a side dish of vegan strips (there are lots of recipes for those on this blog), perhaps a simple dessert, and you're set.

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