Out of all the things I miss about not being able to eat gluten, tomatoes and cheese, is pizza. After all, how could it possibly in my wildest dreams be possible to enjoy a beautiful, soft yet firm pizza crust smothered in sauce, veggies and cheese....
Guess what? It's possible. No, I'm not lying to you. Don't believe me? Try it and see!
I posted a recipe for a pizza crust not that long ago, but I promise that this one is even better. It doesn't even contain any flour. It can be made to be vegan, or it can be covered with meat. Looking for a vegan, tomato free sauce? Try my Presto It's Dairy-Free Pesto, it's sure to please.
Ingredients:
2.5 Cups cooked rice*
2 Eggs(or egg replacement like ground flax seed in water)
2 tbsp Nutritional Yeast
1 tsp Sesame Oil
Spices(garlic powder, pepper, salt, oregano, basil, ect)**
1-4 tsp water
Add all ingredients except for the water to a large bowl. Stir together with a wooden spoon(or your hands) until everything is well mixed. You may need to add a few tsp of water so that the rice sticks together well.
Line your pan or pizza pan with parchment paper. Spread half the rice mixture onto the paper until it is the desired thickness. This will not rise or fall, whatever thickness it is now is the thickness of your pizza crust.
Bake in the oven on 350 for 15 minutes then gently flip the crust over so the other side can cook. Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes until the crust is firm. If you want a crispy crust, bake for another 5 to 10 minutes.
Remove from the oven and top with your choice of sauce, veggies and cheese. Bake until veggies are tender and cheese is melted and enjoy!
Sauce Ideas: Tomato sauce, olive oil, pesto, make a sauce from boiled carrots, squash or pumpkin(put cooked ingredients in food processor or mash with a fork, add spices, garlic and a few cooked cranberries go really well!), Garlic butter, cream cheese...
Topping Ideas: Mushrooms, spinach, red pepper, onion, olives, shaved carrot, broccoli, zucchini, sprinkle of sunflower seeds, meat(chicken, beef, pepperoni, bacon, ham), pineapple...
Cheese Ideas: Authentic Feta(goats cheese), soy cheese, nutritional yeast, mozzarella, marble cheese, Swiss, Parmesan
*Any kind of rice can be used for this, although I haven't tried it with wild rice. Cook your rice with a little extra water to help the crust stick together.
**A little bit of spice goes a long way with this. You don't want all the flavor in the crust to overwhelm the taste of the pizza!
Showing posts with label vegan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vegan. Show all posts
Friday, December 9, 2011
Presto It's Dairy-Free Pesto
In my recent months of trying to heal my body I have had to be REALLY creative in the kitchen. When all of a sudden you are given a long list of foods that are harming you(and you happen to love all of these foods), it can feel like you're meals have become limited to rice and veggies.
So here is a recipe that can spice up your rice. Kick your tomato-free pizza up a few notches. Make your taste buds SING!
With that being said, I am pleased to wave my magic wand and present to you PRESTO! IT'S DAIRY FREE PESTO!
If you've never had pesto before, it's a beautiful sauce made from basil, nuts, olive oil, garlic and Parmesan cheese. With this recipe we're going to make it vegan by using Nutritional Yeast, but feel free to use Parmesan instead!
Ingredients:
6-10 Fresh Basil leaves
1/4 Cup freshly chopped Parsley
4-6 cloves of garlic
1/4 Cup Almonds(unsalted and out of shell)
1/4 Cup Sunflower seeds(unsalted and out of shell)
3 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 TBSP Nutritional Yeast
Water
Salt
Add your almonds and sunflower seeds to a blender(or food processor or magic bullet) with enough water to cover them. Blend until smooth. Add your garlic, nutritional yeast, basil, parsley, olive oil and salt. Blend until the herbs are mixed and the sauce is smooth.
And Presto! You have pesto!
On a side note, you can add onion, oregano, pepper, or other spices to this mix. If you want it really garlic-y, use 6 cloves, if you want it less use 4 or even 3. If you want a strong basil flavor, use 6, less, well you get the idea ;)
Enjoy this beautiful pesto on pizza, pasta, meat, fish, or to spice up salads, garlic breads, sandwiches...the possibilities are endless. Go with the flow and see what happens!
So here is a recipe that can spice up your rice. Kick your tomato-free pizza up a few notches. Make your taste buds SING!
With that being said, I am pleased to wave my magic wand and present to you PRESTO! IT'S DAIRY FREE PESTO!
If you've never had pesto before, it's a beautiful sauce made from basil, nuts, olive oil, garlic and Parmesan cheese. With this recipe we're going to make it vegan by using Nutritional Yeast, but feel free to use Parmesan instead!
Ingredients:
6-10 Fresh Basil leaves
1/4 Cup freshly chopped Parsley
4-6 cloves of garlic
1/4 Cup Almonds(unsalted and out of shell)
1/4 Cup Sunflower seeds(unsalted and out of shell)
3 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 TBSP Nutritional Yeast
Water
Salt
Add your almonds and sunflower seeds to a blender(or food processor or magic bullet) with enough water to cover them. Blend until smooth. Add your garlic, nutritional yeast, basil, parsley, olive oil and salt. Blend until the herbs are mixed and the sauce is smooth.
And Presto! You have pesto!
On a side note, you can add onion, oregano, pepper, or other spices to this mix. If you want it really garlic-y, use 6 cloves, if you want it less use 4 or even 3. If you want a strong basil flavor, use 6, less, well you get the idea ;)
Enjoy this beautiful pesto on pizza, pasta, meat, fish, or to spice up salads, garlic breads, sandwiches...the possibilities are endless. Go with the flow and see what happens!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Vegetarian Chili Cheese Dog
My boyfriend loves Sonic the Hedgehog, and if any of you know who/what Sonic is, you might also know that his favorite food is a chili cheese dog. So my boyfriend asked if I could make Sonic's favorite food for supper some night, and I said yes.
A chili cheese dog normally has beef in the chili, and is loading with a bunch of cheese and a pre-chili mix that contains way too much sodium, msg and isn't any where as tasty as a home made mix. It is also usually made with a beef hot dog.
Being a vegetarian, I needed to find a way to make this healthier and meatless. So I have gone to work in the kitchen tonight to develop a vegetarian(can be made vegan) chili cheese dog. Here's the recipe:
You will need:
-1 can of tomatoes(it doesn't matter if they are plum, whole, crushed or you can use 4-6 fresh ones. We are just going to boil it down, anyways).
-1 can of red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
-1 can of lentils, rinsed and drained
-1 medium onion
-1 red pepper(or green, or orange), sliced
-1/2 cup of sliced mushrooms
-1 clove of garlic, or 1 tsp garlic powder
-Olive oil
-1 tsp soy sauce
-1 small can of tomato paste
-1 spicy pepper of your choice(Jalapeno, Poblano, Banana, Cayenne, Habanero are just a few of the spicy peppers available. If you don't like spicy, I would go with a 1/4 cup of sliced banana peppers. They are mind, tasty and colourful.)
-Hot dog buns or bread
-Yves Veggie dogs
-Shredded cheese(moza, marble, cheddar or you can use a vegan cheese, nutritional yeast or no cheese).
-Spices
Place your tomatoes in a large pot. If you are using fresh, dice the tomatoes so that they are in chunks and add 1/2 cup of water to your pot. If you are using canned tomatoes, add the liquid in with the tomatoes. Heat on medium until tomatoes are cooking into a sauce.
Meanwhile, chop garlic and onions. Add a splash of olive oil to a frying pan and place on medium heat. Add garlic, onions and mushrooms. When the onions start to go floppy add your sliced red pepper and stir until it becomes slightly soft but still has some crunch. Add this mixture to your chili.
Chop your spicy pepper into little pieces and add to your chili along with your tomato paste and beans. Add your spices. Some of the ones I like to include in my chili are basil, oregano, chili powder, red chili flakes, mustard, celery seed, rosemary or thyme(not much of either). It all depends on what spices I have on hand. Cooking is all about experimenting, so don't be afraid to try different spices!
Cook your veggie dogs by boiling them. Place buns in a bowl, add your veggie dog and top with your chili. You can now sprinkle it with cheese, and viola! you have a veggie chili cheese dog!
* I try to sneak veggies into everything, so I put carrot and peas in the pod in my chili. You can also add corn, spinach or another vegetable that you like.
This recipe is healthier than the typical chili cheese dog, but I don't know if it is still considered overly healthy! If you have any questions or comments on how to make this dish better or healthier, please share! I always love to hear feedback!
A chili cheese dog normally has beef in the chili, and is loading with a bunch of cheese and a pre-chili mix that contains way too much sodium, msg and isn't any where as tasty as a home made mix. It is also usually made with a beef hot dog.
Being a vegetarian, I needed to find a way to make this healthier and meatless. So I have gone to work in the kitchen tonight to develop a vegetarian(can be made vegan) chili cheese dog. Here's the recipe:
You will need:
-1 can of tomatoes(it doesn't matter if they are plum, whole, crushed or you can use 4-6 fresh ones. We are just going to boil it down, anyways).
-1 can of red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
-1 can of lentils, rinsed and drained
-1 medium onion
-1 red pepper(or green, or orange), sliced
-1/2 cup of sliced mushrooms
-1 clove of garlic, or 1 tsp garlic powder
-Olive oil
-1 tsp soy sauce
-1 small can of tomato paste
-1 spicy pepper of your choice(Jalapeno, Poblano, Banana, Cayenne, Habanero are just a few of the spicy peppers available. If you don't like spicy, I would go with a 1/4 cup of sliced banana peppers. They are mind, tasty and colourful.)
-Hot dog buns or bread
-Yves Veggie dogs
-Shredded cheese(moza, marble, cheddar or you can use a vegan cheese, nutritional yeast or no cheese).
-Spices
Place your tomatoes in a large pot. If you are using fresh, dice the tomatoes so that they are in chunks and add 1/2 cup of water to your pot. If you are using canned tomatoes, add the liquid in with the tomatoes. Heat on medium until tomatoes are cooking into a sauce.
Meanwhile, chop garlic and onions. Add a splash of olive oil to a frying pan and place on medium heat. Add garlic, onions and mushrooms. When the onions start to go floppy add your sliced red pepper and stir until it becomes slightly soft but still has some crunch. Add this mixture to your chili.
Chop your spicy pepper into little pieces and add to your chili along with your tomato paste and beans. Add your spices. Some of the ones I like to include in my chili are basil, oregano, chili powder, red chili flakes, mustard, celery seed, rosemary or thyme(not much of either). It all depends on what spices I have on hand. Cooking is all about experimenting, so don't be afraid to try different spices!
Cook your veggie dogs by boiling them. Place buns in a bowl, add your veggie dog and top with your chili. You can now sprinkle it with cheese, and viola! you have a veggie chili cheese dog!
* I try to sneak veggies into everything, so I put carrot and peas in the pod in my chili. You can also add corn, spinach or another vegetable that you like.
This recipe is healthier than the typical chili cheese dog, but I don't know if it is still considered overly healthy! If you have any questions or comments on how to make this dish better or healthier, please share! I always love to hear feedback!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Pomegranate Drink
Call me crazy, but I get really excited over fruits and veggies. I love the wide variety of fruits available and how each and kind is different. Today I tried a pomegranate for the very first time, and sharing a few seeds with my boyfriend, I looked up and asked if it was possible to fall in love with fruit.
If you have never tried this beautiful fruit, I urge you to do so! To eat a pomegranate, you slice it in half and eat the seeds. There are several different methods that can be used on how to get the seeds out. I put mine in a bowl of cool water and gently separated the seeds from the fruit. The pomegranate juices do stain, so be careful!
This beautiful fruit has made it to the top of my favorite food list. The seeds are like delicate rubies. They are sweet, yet slightly tart. They are juicy and crisp at the same time. The fruit is beautiful, I don't know how else to describe it...If I could name one fruit that represented the feminine side of nature, it would be this fruit for it's blood red seeds.
You can eat the seeds by themselves, toss them into salads or make juice. Below is a recipe for a delicious vegan smoothie that is sure to make you smile.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
1/2 cup of mixed fruit(I used the frozen mixed fruit with strawberries, peaches, melon)
A handful of ice
1/2 cup of water
Blend the seeds first then add your fruit, ice and water. You may need to add more water depending on how thick or thin you like you drinks. You can also add half of a banana if you'd like. You could probably add any fruit you want to this, or some yogurt if you are eating dairy.
I hope you enjoy your pomegranate as much as I did!
If you have never tried this beautiful fruit, I urge you to do so! To eat a pomegranate, you slice it in half and eat the seeds. There are several different methods that can be used on how to get the seeds out. I put mine in a bowl of cool water and gently separated the seeds from the fruit. The pomegranate juices do stain, so be careful!
This beautiful fruit has made it to the top of my favorite food list. The seeds are like delicate rubies. They are sweet, yet slightly tart. They are juicy and crisp at the same time. The fruit is beautiful, I don't know how else to describe it...If I could name one fruit that represented the feminine side of nature, it would be this fruit for it's blood red seeds.
You can eat the seeds by themselves, toss them into salads or make juice. Below is a recipe for a delicious vegan smoothie that is sure to make you smile.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
1/2 cup of mixed fruit(I used the frozen mixed fruit with strawberries, peaches, melon)
A handful of ice
1/2 cup of water
Blend the seeds first then add your fruit, ice and water. You may need to add more water depending on how thick or thin you like you drinks. You can also add half of a banana if you'd like. You could probably add any fruit you want to this, or some yogurt if you are eating dairy.
I hope you enjoy your pomegranate as much as I did!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Delicious Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes have always been a favorite of mine, but they are not necessarily the healthiest food out there. So when I decide to cook up some of this delicious comfort food, I try to make it a bit healthier by adding some more veggies.
Delicious Mashed Potatoes
-6 medium potatoes
-2 large carrots
-1 medium sweet potato
-1 tbsp butter or margarine(olive oil also works well if you're vegan)
-3 tbsp plain yogurt(can be omitted)
-salt and pepper to taste
Wash all veggies. I like to leave the skin on my carrots and potatoes, but feel free to peel them. I always peel my sweet potato, because the skin is so much tougher. Cut the potatoes and sweet potatoes into chunks, and slice the carrots into medium sized slices.
Place all veggies in a pot and bring to a boil. Add a pinch of salt to help the veggies cook and turn down to medium heat once they start boiling.
When veggies are cooked(potatoes and carrots are done when you insert a fork and it goes in easily) drain the water off them and give a quick rinse to wash away excess starch.
Place the veggies in a large dish and mash them together. I like my carrots to say fairly chunky in the potatoes and just focus on getting a smooth texture with the potatoes.
Add butter(or margarine or oil) and your yogurt(if using), also season with your salt and pepper. I stir this together with a wooden spoon, but if you want you could also use a mixer to get a "whipped" potato.
This really is a tasty treat! It is great served with "meat" loaf and onion gravy, or just on its own. You can also add other veggies to it, or some nutritional yeast for a cheesy-like flavor. Some of the other veggies you can add are:
-Broccoli
-Onion
-Different types of potato
-Turnip
-Squash
The possibilities are endless! I hope you enjoy!
Delicious Mashed Potatoes
-6 medium potatoes
-2 large carrots
-1 medium sweet potato
-1 tbsp butter or margarine(olive oil also works well if you're vegan)
-3 tbsp plain yogurt(can be omitted)
-salt and pepper to taste
Wash all veggies. I like to leave the skin on my carrots and potatoes, but feel free to peel them. I always peel my sweet potato, because the skin is so much tougher. Cut the potatoes and sweet potatoes into chunks, and slice the carrots into medium sized slices.
Place all veggies in a pot and bring to a boil. Add a pinch of salt to help the veggies cook and turn down to medium heat once they start boiling.
When veggies are cooked(potatoes and carrots are done when you insert a fork and it goes in easily) drain the water off them and give a quick rinse to wash away excess starch.
Place the veggies in a large dish and mash them together. I like my carrots to say fairly chunky in the potatoes and just focus on getting a smooth texture with the potatoes.
Add butter(or margarine or oil) and your yogurt(if using), also season with your salt and pepper. I stir this together with a wooden spoon, but if you want you could also use a mixer to get a "whipped" potato.
This really is a tasty treat! It is great served with "meat" loaf and onion gravy, or just on its own. You can also add other veggies to it, or some nutritional yeast for a cheesy-like flavor. Some of the other veggies you can add are:
-Broccoli
-Onion
-Different types of potato
-Turnip
-Squash
The possibilities are endless! I hope you enjoy!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Join The Voyage!
Welcome to The Veggie Voyage! Why don't you sit down, put your feet up and enjoy the ride? While you are here you can expect to learn some interesting facts about veggies, making vegetarian meals and having a relaxing, peaceful visit.
I have been vegetarian on and off throughout my life but have recently decided to wave goodbye to meat. I may on the occasion indulge in fish but that will not be very often, and I still believe that fish is healthy for us. When I say that I might occasionally indulge in fish, I am not talking about once a week. I mean maybe once every 2 or three months, if that at all. I also still eat dairy, although it is usually in the form of cheese.
Why have I became vegetarian? Well, I believe that red meat is causing my rheumatoid arthritis to flare up and cause me severe pain, stiffness and fatigue. On top of that, we can get all of our nutrients and more from plants, whereas animals get most of their nutrients from plants, too. So why should we eat meat when we can get everything from plants?
I'll be creating and trying different vegetarian recipes, some of which will be vegan and others vegetarian. When I try them I will post them in my blog with pictures. If there is a recipe you want to suggest, feel free to do so!
I hope you enjoy your stay!
I have been vegetarian on and off throughout my life but have recently decided to wave goodbye to meat. I may on the occasion indulge in fish but that will not be very often, and I still believe that fish is healthy for us. When I say that I might occasionally indulge in fish, I am not talking about once a week. I mean maybe once every 2 or three months, if that at all. I also still eat dairy, although it is usually in the form of cheese.
Why have I became vegetarian? Well, I believe that red meat is causing my rheumatoid arthritis to flare up and cause me severe pain, stiffness and fatigue. On top of that, we can get all of our nutrients and more from plants, whereas animals get most of their nutrients from plants, too. So why should we eat meat when we can get everything from plants?
I'll be creating and trying different vegetarian recipes, some of which will be vegan and others vegetarian. When I try them I will post them in my blog with pictures. If there is a recipe you want to suggest, feel free to do so!
I hope you enjoy your stay!
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