Raw Vegan Brownies

As you may have heard me mention, we are trying to some extent to get away from eating quite as much meat and processed foods in general.  We won't talk about the giant pre-packaged cinnamon roll I had this morning...I guess the key word here is trying.  

So this endeavor has me looking for replacements for some of my favorite naughty treats that aren't quite as naughty...hence these raw brownies.

Do they taste like fresh from the oven, decadent, dripping with chocolate brownies?  Well, of course not.  But seriously they're not bad.  If you're someone like me who thinks they have to have their chocolate sweet fix everyday, they are a pretty good alternative.  

Here's the recipe I found at 28 Cooks

1/2 c dried dates

1/2 c dried cherries

1/4 c carob powder (or cocoa powder)

1 c walnuts

3 tbsp agave nectar (or honey)

Process all in food processor until ingredients are well mixed and chopped. Press into a small square baking pan and freeze for 1 hour. Slice brownies into 12 pieces. Store in fridge

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Pinterest sort of inspires and depresses me at the same time.  I see so many things on there I'd love to try to do and I get all fired up.  Then I realize there are so many hours in a day, and there's only so much money, and I continue making excuses why I can't do these things until I have to just go to bed and watch old reruns of M*A*S*H until I recover.  

Occasionally though, I do get up the courage to try somethings I see on there...such as Cauliflower Crust Pizza.  I'll just be honest, I don't really like cauliflower.  I can eat it, but I'd just rather not.  But fixed up this way....I'm all over it.  Once again this got the family seal of approval. 

I did a couple things different from the recipe, and I'll note those below for you.  I didn't realize until after I started the recipe was for one serving, so had to increase the cauliflower to feed us all.   You'll definitely want something else to eat with this, a salad or whatever floats your boat.  But I definitely think it's worth a try!

Here's the recipe with any changes I made from Stick a Fork In It

Ingredients:
1 cup cooked, riced cauliflower (I used 2 cups)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese*  (I kept the cheese at one cup even though the cauliflower is increased)
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp crushed garlic
1/2 tsp garlic salt
Olive oil (optional)

Pizza sauce
Mozzarella cheese, shredded
Other additional toppings of your choice

Directions:
To rice your cauliflower, take 1 large head of cauliflower, remove the stems and leaves, and chop the florets into chunks. Add to a food processor and pulse just until it looks like rice. Alternatively, you can grate the cauliflower with a cheese grater.

Place the riced cauliflower in a microwave safe bowl, add 1/4 cup water, and microwave for 6-8 minutes, stirring half-way through.

To make the pizza, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Spray a pizza pan or cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, combine the cauliflower, mozzarella cheese and egg together and stir until well incorporated. Add the oregano, garlic, and garlic salt. Transfer to the cookie sheet, and shape into a 9-inch circle. Brush the crust with olive oil to help it brown in the oven.

Baked at 450 degrees F for 15 minutes, until the crust is browned and cooked through the middle.

Remove the crust from the oven, add your sauce and toppings. Place under a broiler at high heat until the cheese is melted and bubbly. (About 3-4 minutes).

Zucchini Scallion Cakes

Well hello there...it's been a while, I know.  No excuses other than it's been so hot I just haven't cooked that much.  But I saw these little jewels on a great site called Meatless Monday and just had to give them a try.

We really are trying to cut down on the meat intake around here, with no small amount of resistance from the little people.  And they say old people are set in their ways...ha!  I get in a bit of a rut trying to think of veggie main dishes. One can only serve pinto beans so many times before having to hide in shame.  But these cakes are a great way to shake things up a bit.  Come to think of it I think they'd be great with pinto beans!

But seriously, they are easy and delicious.  I hope you'll get a chance to give them a try!

• 1 medium zucchini, grated
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Combine the grated zucchini, scallions, flour, sugar and salt together in a medium mixing bowl and toss to combine. Add the egg, lemon juice and zest and stir to combine.

Prepare a plate with a layer of paper towels. Place the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Scoop tablespoons of zucchini scallion batter out into the oil, taking care to ensure space between the mounds of batter. You may have to fry the cakes in batches. Cook for about 1 minute on each side, or until the cakes have browned on both sides and are semi-firm. Transfer to the paper towel lined plate and repeat until you are out of batter.

Black Bean and Tomato Quinoa

There's nothing not to love about this delicious side dish.  It's easy and wonderful...go make some.  Now!  (I don't know why I'm feeling so bossy today, sorry)

Recipe (from Epicurious)

2 teaspoons grated lime zest

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 teaspoon sugar

1 cup quinoa

1 (14- to 15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

2 medium tomatoes, diced

4 scallions, chopped

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Whisk together lime zest and juice, butter, oil, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4teaspoon pepper in a large bowl.

Wash quinoa in 3 changes of cold water in a bowl, draining in a sieve each time.

Cook quinoa in a medium pot of boiling salted water (1 tablespoon salt for 2 quarts water), uncovered, until almost tender, about 10 minutes. Drain in sieve, then set sieve in same pot with 1 inch of simmering water (water should not touch bottom of sieve). Cover quinoa with a folded kitchen towel, then cover sieve with a lid (don't worry if lid doesn't fit tightly) and steam over medium heat until tender, fluffy, and dry, about 10 minutes. Remove pot from heat and remove lid. Let stand, still covered with towel, 5 minutes.  *I didn't do all this, I just cooked the quinoa according to package directions*

Add quinoa to dressing and toss until dressing is absorbed, then stir in remaining ingredients and salt and pepper to taste.

I was wondering if there might be some way to decrease the butter/oil content of the dressing.  Any ideas?