Pumpkin Spiced Tapioca Pudding (V, GF, soy-free, refined-sugar free)

Autumn Eats Series

Autumn is such a great time for seasonal cooking! Of course summer bears wonderful fruits, but think of all the great vegetables and hearty warming recipes of fall…
The season also offers a wonderful array of desserts like apple pie and pumpkin ice cream. I wasn't planning to invent a new treat when I made this tapioca, I just wanted to veganize it. Now to give it that October twist, we kick it up with pumpkin and spices!

For the tapioca pudding:

Cook time: 30 minutes | Fridge time: 2 - 4 hours | Serves: 2 - 4

2 cups almond milk*
1/3 cup small pearl tapioca
1/2 cup coconut milk or cream
1 ripe spotty banana or 1/3 cup unrefined sugar
2 tbs coconut flour or lucuma powder
1 1/2 tsp of pumpkin spice**
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp pink salt

* or your favorite dairy-free alternative
** or 1 tsp ground cinnamon + dash of ginger, allspice, nutmeg and cloves

In a medium-sized saucepan, combine 1 cup of almond milk and the tapioca, then allow 2 hours or more for them to soak in the fridge.

If using a banana, blend it with the remaining cup of almond milk or wait until after you have cooked the mixture to stir in a mashed banana.

When ready, bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, whisking in the remaining almond milk, coconut milk, sugar (exclude if using a banana), spices and salt. Stir until at a full boil (about 10 minutes), turn down the heat and, continuing to stir often, simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

Once the tapioca beads are translucent, add the flour and lucuma (or other thickening agent), stirring constantly until combined. Add the vanilla and remove from heat. Let the pudding cool for at least 10 minutes before serving if you like it warm. If serving cold, place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming. Don't worry about browning from the banana, as the spices already color your pudding beautifully. 

For the pumpkin butter (optional):
Cook time: 30 minutes - 1h 30m | Yields: 2 cups 
20 oz pumpkin puree or 1 sugar pie pumpkin

2 tbs maple syrup or 1/2 tsp stevia (optional)

1/2 cup apple juice or cider*

adjust spices to taste…

1 tsp ginger paste or powder

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

vanilla extract

pinch of salt

* I buy no sugar added or make my own

Preheat your oven to 400 F degrees. Half and seed your pumpkin before placing in a glass pan, skin up, with enough water to just cover the pan's bottom. Roast for 1 hour. Scoop out the flesh and blend in a food processor until smooth. Add all ingredients to a pot and whisk to a boil, then simmer for 30 minutes. Let cool and store in sterile mason jar, refrigerate.

To serve, combined the two in a bowl or jar in multiple layers.

Create, share, love at first bite!

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College Cooking: Lentil-Loaf and Scallion Potato Croquettes (GF, Vegan)

GF Vegan Lentil-Loaf

Prep time: 15 minutes - 1 hour | Cook time: 45 minutes | Serves: 2-3

2 cups soaked or cooked lentils, cooled or chilled
2 cups frozen baby spinach, ripped

1/2 cup mushrooms, diced

1 cup gluten-free rolled oats

1 tbsp veg broth

1/3 onion, diced
2 tbsp flax meal

6 tbsp warm water

1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup chickpea or GF flour

1/2 cup vegan BBQ sauce + topping

1/4 cup golden raisins, soaked

2 tsp Turmeric powder

1 tsp Cumin powder

1/2 tsp Cayenne pepper

Salt and Pepper, to taste

In a small bowl, mix your flax and water. Set aside to jellify. If your raisins are plump you can skip this step, otherwise soak them.

In a food processor, blend half of your lentils and oats until smooth. This may require a little water if your lentils were on the dry side. Add to a medium mixing bowl.

Chop your mushrooms, onions and garlic finely. In a small pan, heat your veg broth and sauté the onions and garlic until fragrant or transparent. Add your BBQ sauce. Remove a Ziploc of frozen spinach and, while sealed, squeeze the bag gently so the leaves splinter. If you prefer, roughly chop fresh spinach. Pour into your pan with your mushrooms and stir a few times. They should defrost quickly, and do not need to be heated through. Remove from heat.

Add your flax egg or binder to the mixing bowl. Knead once. Add the rest of your oats and lentils, as well as your BBQ veggies, to the bowl and mix. It will get messy! That’s normal. Add your desired spices and raisins. Add flour a little at a time (I ground additional oats to make flour).

Pour the mixture into a lightly greased glass loaf dish (9x5”). Let rest for 10 minutes in the fridge while you preheat the oven to 375 F degrees. The flax will continue to bind during this time. Spread extra BBQ sauce on top with a spatula and bake for 35 minutes.

Let rest before slicing and serving. Enjoy :)

Scallion Potato Croquettes

Serves: 2-3 | Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 30 minutes

1 large baking potato, peeled and cut into small chunks

2-4 scallions, thinly sliced or minced

1 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil 

Sea salt & White pepper*

*I used sea kelp granules and black pepper because I didn’t have those but both work well

Wash and peel potatoes then cut into chunks. Boil in water for about 12-15 minutes until soft.

Drain and run under cool water then let rest for 5 minutes. Mash and rest again for 5. While those are cooling, pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees F.

Add scallions, sesame oil, salt and pepper to your mashed potatoes (you can use the same bowl). Mix.

Form croquettes by rolling 1/4 cup (you can use a measuring cup or just scoop it into your palm) mixture into a ball.

Place on cooking sheet lined with aluminum foil and lightly greased.

Bake for 10 minutes, flip, spray again and bake for 10 more minutes.

Create, share, love at first bite!

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:)

College Cooking: Not Yo Mama’s Tomato Soup (V, GF, fat-free option)

It's that time of year again! Autumn. The trees are beautifully colored, the breeze is cool, and it's time to eat warm nourishing meals! I decided to keep this recipe low-fat and low sodium for those of you watching your intake, especially if you are indulging in desserts like me :D

Crockpot: 10 hours | Servings: 1-2

2 medium Tomatoes, diced
1 clove of Garlic, minced
1/2 small Onion, diced
1-2 handfuls of Mushrooms, minced
1 3/4 cup Veggie Broth
1/4 cup Tomato Sauce
2 tsp Chickpea Flour
2 tsp unsweetened plant milk

1 tbs Nutritional Yeast Flakes
1 tbs turmeric powder
1 tsp raw cane sugar
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Glug of vegan Balsamic Vinegar (could try red wine or apple cider vinegar)
1 bay leaf
Fresh Cilantro to taste

Add everything to lined crockpot. Stir. Cook on low for 10 hours. This is a chunkier soup, but you can blend the tomatoes if you want it creamier. Also add more flour towards the end to thicken if you don't like thin broth.
If you follow the 80/10/10 diet, this would be great as a cooked dinner with some rice or pasta. Otherwise serve with a tortilla chips, oyster crackers, or a sandwich. The basic recipe for a jammin' grilled avocado sandwich is below.

Two slices of bread (I recommend everything)
1/2 avocado, mashed
Earth Balance vegan buttery spread
Maine Coast Sea Kelp Granules, dash
Onion Powder, dash
Lemon Juice, squeeze (optional)

Butter your bread on the outside. Mix all the ingredients. Medium heat a lightly greased flat pan. Spoon mixture onto bread. Grill on each side for a minute or two until golden-brown. Yum!

Create, share, love at first bite!

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Foodporn:

College Cooking: Superfood Power Bites (V, GF, Raw)

Prep time: 10 minutes | Fridge time: 30 min - 1 hour | Yields: 8-10 bites (serves: 4-5)

Depending on what brand you use all the ingredients below can be certified raw, gluten-free and vegan.

1 cup Coconut flour

1/2 cup Peanut flour

2 tsp Lucuma powder

1 tsp Golden Flaxseed meal

1 tsp Ground Cinnamon

1 tsp Turmeric powder

1 tsp raw Cacao powder

1 tsp raw Coconut Sugar

1/2 tsp Himalayan Pink Salt

1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

1/4 cup Pure Maple Syrup*

1/3 cup virgin Coconut Oil, melted

1/8 cup raw nut or seed milk **

1/2 tsp vegan chocolate Shakeology (optional)

1/2 tsp Garden of Life raw fiber (optional)

1 drop liquid flavored Stevia (optional)

1/2 tsp raw cane sugar (optional)

* I used Grade A (medium amber) syrup, but use Grade B if you plan to bake these out and throw a teaspoon of baking powder in the mix.

** or any non-dairy milk. I used a lightly sweetened vanilla cashew milk I made.

Line a small glass pan with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl add your flours and powders. Mix with a fork.

Add in your wet ingredients. Begin folding and kneading the dough, but don't overwork it.

Wipe the inside of the bowl that contained your coconut oil to lightly grease your fingers. Roll dough into balls. Roll in cane sugar, if desired. Place in your pan and cover.

Refrigerate for an hour if you can stand to wait that long.

Serve with a tall glass of your favorite mylk. Enjoy.

I like to have one of these in the morning with my banana coconut water because the fiber keeps me full and the vitamins keep me focused. They are also a good post-workout treat because they are packed with protein for muscle repair. They're a good snack for any time really!

Create, share, love at first bite!

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College Cooking: Savory Chinese Noodle & Cabbage

Quick, simple, nutritious and delicious! Just what a busy student needs.

Time: 15 minutes | Serves: 2

2 cups veggie broth

1 cup tomato juice

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup Shanxi mature vinegar

1 tsp Chinese 5 spice

1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper

1 1/4 tsp Onion powder

1 1/2 tsp Raw Cane sugar

1 bunch dried Oriental noodles

1 cube frozen ginger

1/4 head red cabbage, shredded

1/2 yellow bell pepper, sliced thin

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup silken tofu (optional)

To a medium saucepan add the garlic, ginger and liquid. Bring to a gentle boil. Whisk in your spices. Add the sugar and reduce to a simmer. Chop your cabbage and bell pepper. Stir the veggies into your broth. Cook for 12 minutes.
The oriental noodles I had only take a few minutes to cook so I added them now. If you want to add silken tofu (traditionally would crack an egg) simply whisk some into the mix. Stir and cook on low for 3 more minutes. You should notice the sauce thickening and reducing. Ready to serve!

Next time I will try this with bok choy and maybe mung sprouts, or a nice mushroom, but this is what I had on hand.

Jazzed up with pureed sweet potato :)

Create, share, love at first bite!

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:)