Cashew mozzarella

Caprese salad is one of my favorite summer dishes. So when I went plant based it was definitely something that I missed. Tomatoes perfectly ripe, mozzarella, basil, good quality olive oil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar or glaze with a little salt and pepper. That right there is near perfection.

I experimented with quite a few cashew cheese recipes, it took a bit of tweaking to find the right combo. The garlic powder in this is totally optional, I’ve made it with and without and both are great. I didn’t let my cheese set up very long before slicing, more like tearing the cheese when I made this. You can soak the cashews anywhere from 2 hours to overnight, I’ve done both and it’s come out fine either way. The longer it sets the easier it is to cut. I love this cheese on pizza and of course there’s always good ole grilled cheese (with tomato soup please). Anyway, use this anywhere you would normal mozzarella.

Cashew Mozzarella

2 cup raw cashews, soaked & drained

1 1/2 cups water

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

2-3 Tbsp nutritional yeast

1/2 cup tapioca starch (this is what makes it stretchy)

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp garlic powder (optional)

bowl of ice water

Blend all ingredients in a high powered blender (a regular blender will work too, it just takes a little longer) until smooth.

Transfer to a medium saucepan and cook over medium to medium-high heat, whisking continuously. (Don’t walk away this happens really fast!) As the mixture heats, it will form clumps. Keep whisking until the mixture is smooth, thick and pulls away from the sides of the pan. Remove from heat.

Using a small scoop, make balls and drop them into the ice water bath. You can shape them into small or large balls. It will stay fresh a few days in the fridge, if you don’t use it all immediately, like I usually do. Enjoy!

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Zucchini is one of the most versatile vegetables. I’ve had so much from my garden this summer that I’ve been putting it in everything! From zoodles, savory zucchini pancakes, soups, shredded in salads, muffins and bread. I revamped my chocolate zucchini bread so it’s now completely plant based. You can use one kind of flour or a combination like I did. I’ve made it gluten free many times by substituting the unbleached and whole wheat flour for all oat flour or 1/2 oat and 1/2 buckwheat or rice flour. (Buckwheat is a seed, not a grain. Quinoa is another seed that’s often mistaken for a grain). My favorite way to eat this is with a little vegan cream cheese or butter.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

1 cup unbleached flour 

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 cup oat flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 

1 teaspoon baking soda 

2 teaspoon baking powder 

1 teaspoon salt 

3/4 cup white or raw sugar 

3/4 cup brown sugar

3 flax ‘eggs’ 

1/2 cup avocado oil 

1/2 cup applesauce

2 teaspoons vanilla extract 

2 1/2 cups shredded zucchini 

1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans or 24 muffin tins 

For the flax ‘eggs’ use 1 Tbsp flax meal and 3 Tbsp of water for each ‘egg’ (you can grind the seeds in a food processor). You can also use an egg replacer or chia ‘eggs’. Mix the flax meal with water and set aside until it’s a gelatinous texture.

In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, cocoa, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Once flax ‘eggs’ have reached a gelatinous texture, start adding the wet ingredients. Make a ‘well’ in the middle of the dry ingredients. Add flax egg, oil, apple sauce, vanilla and shredded zucchini. Mix until combined. Add the nuts and chocolate chips. Spoon evenly into loaf pans or muffin tins.

Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, for muffins bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove bread from pans; cool completely on wire rack. Enjoy!

Banana Nut Bread

If you have super ripe bananas and don’t want to freeze them, making banana bread is the way to go! Banana cake with cream cheese frosting is my absolute favorite dessert, so I’ve tried lots of banana cake and banana bread recipes and this one is my favorite, I’ve been making it for years and it comes out perfectly every time!

Making this completely plant based was pretty easy. Instead of eggs I use “flax or chia eggs” or Eggs from plants egg substitute.

This is a great recipe for doubling, that’s what I usually do because this goes fast around here! For the flour I use 1 cup of whole wheat and 1/2 cup of unbleached, but you can use all unbleached or all whole wheat. I never use all purpose in anything. You can make it gluten free by using barley flour or another flour you prefer. When I make it gluten free I add another “egg” flax, chia or egg substitute, otherwise it’s more crumbly that I like.

I only use non-aluminum baking powder. We like walnuts but you can try pecans. You can add chocolate chunks or chips. If you do it’s kinda like Chunky Monkey ice-cream in bread form.

Banana Bread

1 cup ripe mashed bananas (about 3 medium)

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp pink salt

1/4 cup oil (I use olive oil)

1 flax egg (1Tbsp flax seeds & 3Tbsp water)

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all the dry ingredients together. Make a well in the center and add bananas, oil and flax egg. Mix until combined, add nuts. Spray loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and fold in batter. Bake for 45 minutes or until a knife or toothpick comes out clean. Enjoy!I

Tortilla Soup

Tortilla Soup

I love tortilla soup and have for years. I think the first time I had it I was in high school and I've been trying to perfect the recipe ever since.  While experimenting I came up with a vegan version that’s just as good if not better than one with chicken. For the broth, I like to use veggie bouillon cubes & hot wader. Usually, I add 2 or 3 types of beans and frozen corn. I like Trader Joe's taco seasoning or a combination of chili powder, garlic, cumin & coriander. I add carrots and zucchini, once I was out of carrots and used small chucks of butternut squash and my daughter said it was the best version I’d ever made. Basically use what you have. I add the zucchini towards end so they don’t get mushy. You can use fire roasted tomatoes if you want it a little more spicy.

Tortilla Soup

32 oz vegetable broth
1 onion diced
2 Tbsp olive oil
3-4 carrots chopped
2 cloves of garlic minced
2-3 small zucchini chopped (optional)
1 can black beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can diced tomatoes
1 bag of frozen corn
1/2 package taco seasoning
1 tsp sugar (optional)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4-1/2 bunch cilantro

Toppings:
cheese
lime
avocado
salsa
tortilla chips

In a large soup pot, saute with onion, carrots, and garlic until almost done. Add broth, tomatoes, beans, taco seasoning, salt, sugar, pepper, and corn. Bring to a boil and turn down to very low, after about 10 minutes and add zucchini and cilantro. Simmer for about 20 minutes, serve with your choice of toppings. Enjoy! It’s best when shared.

The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies!

When my kids were little, I kept dough in the freezer so I could make a few (or a dozen) for them after school. I have some serious chocoholics in my family, especially my husband!

I haven't made these amazing cookies since our family started eating more plant-based recipes.

A couple of months ago at Urth cafe in Laguna Beach Erskien tried a gluten-free, vegan chocolate chip cookie that he said was the best he’d ever had including my chocolate chip cookies.

Well, that’s completely unacceptable!

Mine are the best, but they're not completely plant-based so I set out to revamp our favorite recipe. This time, I opted for gluten-free flours and toasted nuts to improve upon the original flavors.  Here’s the new update, better than ever. 

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup vegan butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 egg replacer *I used Follow Your Heart’s
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups oat flour
12 oz semi sweet chocolate chips *I used Trader Joe’s semi sweet, they’re vegan
1 cup nuts toasted (optional) *Urth Cafe’s had pecans, walnuts work as well 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. LIghtly toast the nuts and set aside. Cream butter, add both of the sugars, once it’s creamy add the egg replacer and vanilla. Mix the dry ingredients together. Add the mixture a little at a time to make sure it’s all incorporated. Add the chocolate chips and nuts. Once everything is mixed together and refrigerate for 30 minutes. You can make the cookies as big or as small as you want, Urth cafe’s were big, I prefer normal sized cookies. Place cookie dough on a baking sheet bake for 10-12 minutes at 375. If you make giant ones you’ll need to increase the baking time to 15-18 minutes.