Streusel-Topped Blueberry Muffins

I LOVE blueberry muffins, and I am always looking to improve on my recipe. It seems like a never-ending saga of additions and subtractions. This is my best-to-date, which I am happy to make again and again. Makes about 16-18 and no need for butter. They are already buttery!

Streusel-Topped Blueberry Muffins

Muffins:
3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 t baking powder
1 t salt
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 t vanilla
1 1/2 - 2 cups blueberries to taste

Streusel Topping:
1/4 cup (4 T) cold butter
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 375. Line muffin tins with liners. Melt butter and set aside.
Combine all dry ingredients in large mixing bowl and stir. Combine all wet ingredients in a small bowl and blend well. Add wet ingredient mixture to dry mixture and carefully stir together. When blended well, carefully fold in blueberries. Divide into muffin cups.
Combine butter, flour and sugar into a small bowl, and using fingers, blend the ingredients together until it forms a crumbly texture. Top each muffin with equal amounts using all the topping.
Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes. Will still be light colored, but will spring back when touched. Let sit in muffin tins for 10 minutes before removing.

Vegetarian Chili with Beans

Recipe:

1/4 cup cooking oil
1 Medium yellow onion, chopped
1 Green bell pepper, chopped
3 Ribs celery, chopped
2 bags veggie grounds
2 cans rotel diced tomatoes
1 can black beans
1 can chili beans in sauce
1 can red kidney beans
1/2 small can tomato paste
4 cans water (refill one of the bean cans with tap water 4 times)
3 T chili powder
1 1/2 T cumin
Salt and pepper to taste

Toppings:
Light sour cream
Chopped cilantro
Chopped avocado

Heat oil in large pot, I use a 5-qt cast iron pot. add the chopped veggies and cook until tender. Add the two bags of frozen veggie grounds and continue to cook until heated through. Add all the cans of tomatoes and beans, and the water. Stir in the tomato paste and spices. Simmer until veggies are very tender, about an hour.
Serve with your choice of toppings! I also eat mine with tortilla chips!

Gluten-Free Vegan Brownies - AWESOME!!!!

I have been wanting to try for gluten-free, vegan brownies for quite some time now, and today I just decided to go for it. I have researched tons of recipes and took my favorite parts of several to come up with this gem. I think a little frosting is great too, but these brownies stand very well on their own!

 

Gluten-Free Vegan Brownies

2 cups Bob's Red Mill All -Purpose Gluten-Free Flour        

1/2 cup strong coffee

1 cup agave nectar

1 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup coconut oil

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup nuts (optional)

1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Coat 9x13 pan with light coating of margarine.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, sugar, and cocoa powder and stir. Add all wet ingredients and fold together. Add chocolate chips and nuts if using. Pour into baking dish and bake for 30 minutes. Cool on wire rack and frost if desired. ENJOY!

Frosting
1 lb powdered sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup (as needed) vanilla soy or almond milk

Blend dry ingredients together then add in wet. Add more milk as needed for a smooth spreading consistency. Stir until smooth then spread on brownies!

Vegan Thai Lettuce Wraps

I LOVE Thai Lettuce Wraps but found the meatless ones quite bland and boring. I had to find a way to enjoy these tasty wraps in a way that complimented my new plant-based diet. After looking at several recipes already out there, I just couldn't find one that suited me. I closed the laptop and followed my taste buds. What resulted was a great first-time-try masterpiece!

I had several of the ingredients already. Just some fresh green onions and cashews completed my grocery list. I started with the brown rice first, since it takes a while to cook. I prepared the rest of the dish during that time.

What resulted was phenomenal. Even my meat-eating husband loved them!

Vegan Thai Lettuce Wraps

 Simmer Sauce

1/4 Cup Gluten-Free Soy Sauce

1/4 Cup Sugar

4 T Rice Wine Vinegar

2 T Thai Style Chili Sauce

Filling

1 Bag Vegan Meal Starter (ground beef)

2 Large Portabello Mushrooms, chopped

1 Cup Cashews, Chopped

3 Cloves Garlic, Minced

2 Cups Cooked Brown Rice (About 1/2 cup rice in 1 cup water, cooked.)

1/2 Cup Green Onions, Chopped

Dipping Sauce

4 T Hoisin

4 T Thai Style Chili Sauce

1/4 Cup Gluten-Free Soy Sauce

2 T Sugar

1 Tsp Sriracha

Romaine Lettuce Leaves

Begin to cook brown rice if needed.

Prepare Simmer Sauce and set aside.

Prepare Dipping Sauce while rice is cooking as well.

In large skillet, heat 2 T oil. Put in mushrooms and stir for one minute. Add garlic and cashews and cook one minute more. Pour in bag of meatless grounds and continue to cook on medium heat until grounds are heated through. 5-7 Minutes.
Add in the two cups of cooked brown rice and stir together. Pour simmer sauce over mixture and toss to coat. Add in green onions and toss lightly. Remove from heat.
Fill Romaine Leaves with mixture. Drizzle with Dipping Sauce. Enjoy!

Black Bean Salad - AWESOME!

We just can't get enough of this salad in our house. Even though I can't claim the idea for this great recipe, I can at least share it!

Black Bean Salad

2 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 bag frozen white kernel corn, cooked and cooled
2 red bell peppers, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 minced red onion
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons sugar
9 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
6 tablespoons fresh lime juic
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
2 Hass avocados, chopped

Combine all ingredients except for avocados in a large bowl and mix well. Cover and chill for a few hours or overnight. Right before serving, add avocados and mix gently, being careful not to mash avocados. Garnish with a more chopped cilantro if desired. Serve at room temperature.

Original Recipe can be found at:
http://www.onceuponachef.com/2010/08/black-bean-salad-with-corn-red-peppers-avocado-lime-cilantro-vinaigrette.html

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Super Woman Green Juice and More

This is what makes me Wonder Woman to those who know me. The most important part of my life is starting my day with this concoction. With several variations, I don't know how I would function without it. The micronutrient punch this baby packs is the greatest part of my plant-based diet. The recipe is below as well as some of my other favorite combinations. Enjoy!

Wonder Woman Juice

2 Large Kale Leaves (or swiss chard) I prefer the organic flat-leaf kale at my local produce market
2 Cups Packed Baby Spinach
5-6 Fresh Strawberries
2 Organic Granny Smith Apples

Simple. Juice it. Drink it.


Wonder Woman Juice II

2 Large Kale Leaves (or swiss chard) I prefer the organic flat-leaf kale at my local produce market
2 Cups Packed Baby Spinach
1/2 Pint Blueberries
1 Kiwi (peel it first)
1 Organic Granny Smith Apple

Annoying Orange Juice

4 Whole Carrots
1 Golden Beet (found at my awesome local produce market!)
2 Oranges

Green Detox Queen

2 Large Kale Leaves (or swiss chard) I prefer the organic flat-leaf kale at my local produce market
2 Cups Packed Baby Spinach
2 Stalks Celery
1/2 Lemon
2 Organic Granny Smith Apples

Fruity Juicy

1/4 Whole Pineapple
5-6 Strawberries
2 Oranges
For added greatness, I pour all of this into the blender, add in a banana, and turn it into a smoothie!

All-We-Need-Now-Is-Vodka V8

2 Large Beefsteak Tomatoes (or About 5-6 Roma Tomatoes)
2 Carrots
2 Stalks Celery
1/2 Medium-Sized Cucumber
1 Wide Strip of Bell Pepper (I like red)
1 Tsp Season Salt (optional)

Gluten-Free Vegan Banana Pancakes

I have been experimenting for months with this recipe, and it is finally where I want it. Rich yet fluffy, these pancakes pack a great dose of healthy while sharing a great dose of fun. Hunter is the pickiest eater I have ever seen, yet he shovels these babies down. Just a little syrup and they're good to go!

Gluten-Free Vegan Banana Pancakes

2 cups Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
1 Tbsp Flax Meal mixed with 3 Tbsp Water (let it soak for five minutes first)
1/2 cup Melted Earth Balance Margarine
1/3 cup Honey (or agave nectar)
2 Medium Bananas, Mashed
1 cup Vanilla Almond, Coconut or Soy Milk

Place all dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and stir together well. Add all wet ingredients and mix with spoon until just blended. Cook just like you would regular pancakes. Lower temp is best for these.

Enjoy!