Veg Tasties

I don't know about you, but when we meet new people and we tell them that we are vegan, they always ask the same thing: "You're vegan! And what do you eat?" They stop asking that after they sit at our table and eat what we eat! Here is another flavorful rendition from our kitchen to yours that proves that meat can be substituted with tons of flavor and yum!

1 1/2 cups white beans, cooked (could be canned, and if they are canned, rinse them)
1 medium carrot, peeled and sliced
1 medium potato, peeled and chopped
1 tomato, cut in chunks
1 celery stalk, washed and sliced
1 medium beet, peeled and chopped
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
3 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 cup sweet red pepper strips
1/2 cup sweet green pepper strips
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp. coriander powder
1/2 tsp. cumin powder
2 Tbsp. sweet paprika powder
1 cup bread crumbs (you can make it yourself from whole wheat bread)
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. garlic powder (1/2 tsp. if you are not a great garlic lover)
1 medium onion sliced
3 Tbsp. sesame seeds
1/2 cup water (you can add a bit more, adjusting the seasonings to taste, just make sure the mixture does not wind up getting runny!)

In a food processor or blender, put the carrot, potato, tomato, celery, beet, onion, red and green peppers an sesame seeds with the water, and process till smooth.
Scrape into a bowl and add the rest of the ingredients, mixing well until you have a soft dough. Form the Tasties with a spoon on the palm of your hand, in whatever size you prefer.
Cook them in a skillet until golden brown on all sides. You can also bake them at 350º F, turning them every now and then until golden brown on ever side (they will be drier.)
You can put them in sauce and add them to pasta. You can slice them and add them to scrambled tofu, to stir-fried vegetables, to pita sandwiches. You can also cook with rice.

Yield: Depends on the size you make them.

Here are the Tasties chopped into rice with capers and olives. Baked sweet potato rounds and garlic bread and a nice salad completed the meal. You can prepare these Tasties in many ways once you have them. Enjoy!

Let Your Heart Sing