Vegan Eating Soooo Good, You'll Wanna Smack Yo Mama! (Original Post Date: Dec. 19, 2012)

This week I have some very delicious vegan eating recipes for you. So without further ado, let's get started, shall we?

This week I will provide you with breakfast, lunch and dinner options that are so yummy, you will literally wanna smack yo mama!

First up is my incredibly simple, deliciously divine Butter and Maple Syrup Steel Cut Oats. This recipe is a bit time consuming, but oh so worth it! Serves 2.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almond, soy or coconut milk (your choice, I prefer the coconut milk personally)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 2 tspn yellow raisins
• 1/2 cup Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut Oats
• 1 1/2 tbsp Earth Balance Buttery Spread
• 2 tbsp maple syrup or maple flavored agave syrup

Directions:

1. Bring the water, non-dairy milk and salt to a boil in a medium sized pot.
2. Once boiling, add the raisins and steel cut oats. Allow to cook for 15-20 minutes. The longer they cook, the mushier they become.
3. Add about 3/4 tbsp Earth Balance Buttery Spread to each serving bowl.
4. Top with hot cereal.
5. Drizzle the top of the cereal with maple syrup. Enjoy!

For lunch try these scrumptious Sweet Potato and Black Bean Vegan Quesadillas With Avocado Cream Sauce. Your mouth AND your tummy will thank you! Serves 4-6. I found this recipe on CheapandSimpleVeganRecipes.com .

Ingredients:

• 2 medium sweet potatoes
• 1 can organic black beans
• 1 package of  8-inch whole-wheat tortillas
• 2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Vegan cheese
• Salsa

Avocado Cream Sauce:

• 1 avocado
• Loose handful of chopped cilantro
• Water
• Salt, to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.  
2. Chop up sweet potatoes into tiny cubes (about 1/2 inch-size). Toss in a bowl with olive oil and spices to coat well. Spread on a lightly-greased baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes, or until completely cooked and soft.
3. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Dust with cooking spray and put a tortilla in the skillet. Add a few tablespoons of the potatoes and beans and spread over tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese and top with another tortilla. Cook for a few minutes on each side, until cheese has melted and inside is warm.
4. Cut into quarters and serve with salsa and avocado cream sauce.
5. To make sauce: Combine fruit of avocado, cilantro and a few tablespoons of water in blender. Puree until smooth. Add salt if desired.

For dinner, a mix of ginger, asparagus and roma tomatoes makes for one tasty and original stir-fry. I borrowed from this recipe but added a few things and substituted a few things to make it vegan and take this recipe into the stratosphere of flavor! Serves 4.

Chicken (Seitan) Tomato and Asparagus Stir Fry Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups vegetable stock
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tbsp ginger
• 1/2 tbsp basil
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 package chicken seitan
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 bunch asparagus, cut into 1-1/2" lengths
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes or 2-3 romas

Directions:

1. In small bowl, combine stock, cornstarch, salt, pepper, ginger, basil and garlic powder; mix and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add chicken seitan; stir-fry until seitan is almost cooked, about 2 minutes. Remove to plate and set aside.
3. Add onion to skillet; stir-fry until crisp-tender, about 3-4 minutes. Add asparagus; stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until bright green.
4. Stir stock mixture and add to skillet; bring to a boil. Return chicken to skillet. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes or until seitan is heated thoroughly and asparagus is crisp-tender. 
5. Add tomatoes; stir-fry 1 minute until hot. Serve over hot cooked rice or udon noodles.

So there you have it folks, three new, delicious and simple vegan recipes for your meat-free eating enjoyment!

To your health and wellness,

Charlotte

Fun Vegan Fact of the Week:

While veggie eating holds many health benefits, it also has other interesting effects on the body: research shows that avoiding red meat improves the sex appeal of male body odor.