Snack - English Muffin with PB, hemp seeds

I recently bought a bag of Nutiva's hemp seeds. I've used hemp protein powder before in my smoothies and I've found that I'm not a big fan of it. But... the seeds themselves are pretty darn tasty and hemp seeds actually contain all essential amino acids, making it a complete plant protein! In case you were unaware, essential amino acids are those which the body cannot make and therefore must obtain from food sources (like hemp seeds, and flax, too!). If you'd like to know more about hemp seeds, check out the Body Ecology website.

Lately I've been getting bored with my usual granola breakfast, so I've been switching it up with some delicious gluten-free english muffins (made with almond meal, and are yeast-free) topped with either peanut or almond butter and a sprinklin' of hemp seeds. Great stuff! 

Peanut Lime Tofu Salad - Vegan MoFo #10

I've really been enjoying romaine lettuce lately. It's a great source of vitamins A and K, so that's what's up on the nutrition front, yo. Pretty exciting, isn't it? 

• 1 pkg. extra-firm tofu, prepared your favorite way, I marinate mine overnight in peanut marinade then sautee
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 1/2 cucumber, chopped
• red bell pepper, sliced
• 2 scallions/green onions, diced

Dressing

• 1/4-1/2 cup peanut butter
• 4 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 Tbsp. Tamari
• 1 tsp. sesame oil
• 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 1/2 - 1 cup vegetable broth (or water)

Combine all dressing ingredients in small saucepan and heat on low until peanut butter is melted. Mix well. Let cool. 

Toss dressing with the salad just prior to serving. Yum! Garnish with chopped peanuts and lime wedge!

African Sweet Potato Stew

This is one of my favorite stews to make! That's because it has my favorite ingredient in it --> peanut butter!!! I do love sweet potatoes quite a bit, to be fair. 
I first found this recipe in the Vegan Planet cookbook by Robin Robertson. I've just tweaked it a bit, adding more cinnamon and broth, specifically. I've seriously made this recipe soooo many times that the binding on my book is coming unglued... right at this recipe's page.
Serve this stew with some brown rice or quinoa for added fiber-y goodness. 

Ingredients

• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into cubes
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil or canola oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced (1 tsp.)
• 1 tsp. ginger (I use pureed from jar if I don't have fresh ginger root on hand)
• 1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can chickpeas, rinse and drained
• 1 14-oz. can organic diced tomatoes, do NOT DRAIN
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 2.5-3 cups vegetable broth or water
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper 
• 3/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
• crushed peanuts for garnish and lime wedge (optional)

Directions

1. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, cover, and cook until softened, ~5 minutes . 
2. Add bell pepper, cover, cook another 5 minutes.
3. Add the garlic, cook another few minutes. Add the spices, ginger, and brown sugar, stirring constantly until mixed.
4. Add sweet potatoes and stir.
5. Stir in canned tomatoes, veggie stock, and salt to taste. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer covered until vegetables are cooked, about 30 minutes. 
6. Add the beans and peanut butter, stir until PB is melted and mixed into stew.
7. Garnish with chopped peanuts and lime, optional. Serve!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies

After a damn-near 2-month absence from my blog, I present you with: more peanut butter awesome-ness! These cookies are seriously addictive! And I am seriously addicted to peanut butter. Sorry. Not really ; )

Based off a peanut butter ball recipe in the 30-Minute Vegan cookbook, which calls for spelt flour (which isn't really gluten free, right?), I subbed some oat flour and brown rice flour for the spelt. So, here we go:

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups peanut butter
• 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1.5 tsp. raw apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup GF oat flour
• 1/4 cup brown rice flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 cup GF rolled oats
• 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips (NOT optional)
• I use Enjoy Life brand GF choco chips

L: liquid ingredients, melted together
R: dry ingredients

Directions

Nom nom.

1. Preheat oven to 350F. In a small saucepan, mix together the peanut butter, maple syrup, and apple cider vinegar. Place on stove over low heat until the peanut butter is melted and mix together. Add vanilla extract. Stir. Remove from heat.
2. In a bowl, mix together the oat flour and brown rice flour along with the baking soda, GF oats, and chocolate chippies (if using).
3. Combine the wet and dry ingredients.
4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Or lightly spray a nonstick aluminum baking sheet. Scoop out your desired amount of "dough" and form a small ball. 
5. Place on cooking tray. Flatten the ball just a bit, because it will not melt down in the oven (according to the original recipe). 
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes. I know that seems like such a short period of time. I thought the same thing but I took mine out around 10 minutes and they were ready. You may have to experiment a bit.
7. Cool before eating. 

Choc. Chip Banana Oat Cake (GF,V)

FYI: Extremely ripe black bananas are needed for this recipe! Yellow ones simply will not do.


I remember when I was little how my mom would always have some black bananas laying around the kitchen. I was always so disgusted by them. Little did I know that these same bananas were the ones that went into my mom's awesome banana bread that I just could not get enough of.

But this isn't a recipe for banana bread. Put those too-ripe-bananas to good use in this recipe from Oh She Glows. I found myself eating slices of this "cake" for breakfast. It definitely didn't disappoint!

Ingredients

• 2 cups GF oats, processed into a flour (I actually just used 2 cups of GF oat flour)
• 1/2 cup GF oats (not processed)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/8th tsp. nutmeg
• 2 Tbsp. whole cane sugar (or sucanat)
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 2 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted
• 2 medium RIPE bananas, peeled
• 1/3 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup soymilk or almond milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• Fold in: 
• 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life brand)
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

1. Preheat oven to 350F and lightly grease an 8" cake pan or a pie pan. If you are processing your oats into flour yourself, do that now.
2. In a large bowl mix the dry ingredients together well. 
3. In another bowl, mix together the oil, applesauce, almond milk, and vanilla. Add in the two peeled bananas and smush into the wet ingredients.
4. Add the wet mix to the dry and stir until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts.
5. Spread into prepared pan and bake for 36 minutes at 350F, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool for 20 minutes before cutting.
6. Once cooled, top with PB Banana Glaze. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days.

PB Glaze

• 1 ripe banana
• 2 Tbsp. peanut butter (I used crunchy, but I don't recommend it!)
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Mash banana in a bowl until smooth. Add in PB and mix until combined. Try microwaving the peanut butter first. Add the powdered sugar and stir until smooth and fully combined. Store in fridge. 

Crispy Peanut Butter Balls

These little guys are quick and easy to make. 

I found that making these with just almond butter (based on this recipe) made them a little bit too dry for my liking. I prefer to make these with peanut butter! I've been struggling with a peanut butter addiction for quite some time now. These treats give me the quick PB fix I need in no time flat. 
These are also super tasty when made with chocolate hazelnut butter! I use Justin's brand.

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Ingredients

• 1 cup crispy GF rice cereal (I used Nature's Path)
• 1/2 cup peanut butter (or almond butter, or get crazy and use a mix of both!)
• ¼ cup maple syrup or brown rice syrup (or agave maybe?)
• ½ tsp. vanilla extract
• ¼ cup vegan chocolate chips (optional)

1. Line a plate or baking sheet with parchment paper. 
2. In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine wet ingredients: peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla, and microwave for 35-45 seconds. Stir. Repeat if the peanut butter is still not melted (or if you have a super old school microwave, like me).
3. Add crispy rice cereal and chocolate chips (if using) to the wet ingredients and stir to coat.
4. Wet hands with water and roll mixture into balls. Place on parchment paper.
5. Place in refrigerator until hardened. Store in an airtight container in fridge. 

Peanut Butter Cups (no cooking required)

I don't usually rely on my microwave for making food stuffs. However, this recipe is totally an exception! These tasty little treats are super easy to make, and are even easier to eat! Maybe a little too easy...

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups vegan chocolate chips (you can also use Baker's Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate Squares)
• 1 cup peanut butter (or you could use a mixture of dark chocolate peanut butter AND peanut butter like I did)
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• Mini paper muffin cups

Powdered sugar, peanut butter, dark chocolate PB.

Directions

1. Place chocolate in microwave-safe bowl. I just used a pyrex bowl. My microwave is super old so I had to heat the chocolate with 3 intervals of 45-seconds. Stir until creamy.
2. Using a spoon, spread some of the melted chocolate into the bottom of each muffin cup making sure to get the chocolate into the little crevices of the cup. This step takes a bit of patience, things get a little messy!
3. Place cups in freezer until hardened, just a few minutes. 
4. In another bowl add the peanut butter and microwave for about 45-seconds until warm. Then add in the powdered sugar and stir until creamy.