Tag Archives: #glutenfreeandvegan

Tropical Fruit “Nice Cream” (Vegan & Paleo)

A couple of weeks ago I was visiting my husband’s family in rural upstate New York. The closest Trader Joe’s is over an hour away in Albany, and I stopped there before we got to the farm in order to pick up groceries for the week.

When my kids were begging for dessert, I made this simple “nice cream” with these three ingredients from Trader Joe’s: Organic Coconut Cream, Organic Tropical Fruit Blend, and Organic Blue Agave Sweetener. If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s near you, this frozen fruit blend has: pineapples, mangoes, strawberries, and bananas.

First, purée frozen fruit and coconut cream until smooth.

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Then, add the Organic Blue Agave Sweetener.

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Put into a freezable container and freeze. I made it at 11 am and served it after dinner at 7 pm. You can try it after 30 minutes – it shouldn’t take long to firm up.

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Scoop it out and serve.

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I served it with Enjoy Life Vegan Chocolate Chips and the Best Vegan Chocolate Sauce.

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Tropical Fruit Nice Cream Cover 1

  • Servings: 1.1
  • Difficulty: easy
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Credit: My Real Dish

Ingredients

  • 1 can Organic Coconut Cream
  • 16 oz of Organic Tropical Fruit Blend (1 frozen fruit bag)
  • 1/4 cup Organic Blue Agave Sweetener
  • Optional: dark chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life)
  • Optional: Best Vegan Chocolate Sauce. find the recipe here.


Directions

  1. First, purée frozen fruit and coconut cream until smooth.
  2. Add the Organic Blue Agave Sweetener and cream until combined.
  3. Put into a freezable container and freeze for at least 30 minutes. I let it freeze for 7 hours
  4. Serve! Feel free to top with Vegan Chocolate Chips and the Best Vegan Chocolate Sauce.


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What is your favorite “nice cream”? Post about it in the comments! 

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Tahini Cookies (Vegan & Gluten-Free)

My son cannot eat peanuts. So when Trader Joe’s put the Tahini on the end cap display by the checkout, it inspired me to make my sweet boy some cookies that he could eat! I had never had Tahini before, so I didn’t know what to expect.IMG_1560

The tahini cookie batter consistency was just like that of a peanut butter cookie.

IMG_1561.JPGI rolled the batter into balls, and I used a meat beater in order to see what the pattern would look like, but then decided to dip the fork in water and press – the old fashioned way.

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The result was a crispy wafer tahini cookie, which rivaled a peanut butter cookie (in my humble opinion). But regardless, he didn’t have an allergic reaction to them, so that’s a win in my recipe book!

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My daughter wanted to make sandwich cookies, so we made a vanilla filling. Honestly, I was already happily eating the crunchy tahini goodness with a glass of homemade cashew milk, but she was persistent. The kids often inspire my recipes, because I bake to not only make them healthier gluten-free vegan treats, but also to avoid allergic reactions.

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On the other hand, my son, my husband, and I prefer chocolate EVERYTHING, so I pulled a jar of the Best Vegan Chocolate Sauce from the fridge. It’s thick and spreadable, so I used it as a filling! FYI – I didn’t spread and leave the sandwich cookies sitting out, because we ate all of them before I could blink! However, I’m afraid the sauce would melt if you did. I would fill the tahini cookies right before eating each one, or keep them in the fridge. IMG_1583.JPG

Gluten-free and vegan deliciousness!

tahini cookie pinterest

  • Difficulty: easy
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A crunchy gluten-free and vegan tahini cookie

These tahini wafer cookies are gluten and sugar cane free and vegan. Eat them plain or make a sandwich cookie with chocolate or vanilla filling. If you use the chocolate filling recipe, it contains cane-sugar.

Ingredients

– 1/2 cup (~1 stick) vegan butter (I used Earth Balance)

– 3/4 cup tahini butter (I used Trader Joe’s)

– 1/2 cup coconut sugar

– 1/2 cup maple sugar (I use Coombs Family Farms Maple Sugar from Fresh Thyme, but you can use brown sugar too)

– Egg replacer for 1 egg (1 ½ teaspoon Ener-G + 2 tablespoons warm water)

– 1/2 teaspoon gluten free pure vanilla extract

– 1 cup all-purpose gluten free flour (I used Namaste Gluten Free Perfect Flour Blend)

– 3/4 teaspoon baking soda

Sandwich Cookie Filling (Optional)

Vanilla Filling:

– 2 tablespoon melted vegan butter (I used Earth Balance)

– 1 tablespoon almond milk (or any non-dairy milk)

– 3/4 – 1 cup powdered xylitol or confectioner’s sugar

Chocolate Filling:

Follow the recipe for the Best Vegan Chocolate Sauce.


Directions

  1. The chocolate filling: if you chose to make the chocolate filling click here for the recipe, it's best to prepare this the night before or at least a couple hours before in order to let it cool and firm in the fridge so that it is spreadable.
  2. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
  3. Heat your water for the egg replacer - I used a tea kettle.
  4. Add vegan butter, tahini, and both sugars to a mixing bowl.
  5. Cream with the paddle attachment for the mixer until they are well combined.
  6. Switch your attachment for your mixer to a regular beater.
  7. Prepare your egg replacer.
  8. Add egg replacer and vanilla, and mix on medium speed until combined.
  9. Shape 1 ½ - 2 tablespoons of dough into a ball.
  10. Line three baking sheets with parchment paper.
  11. Place dough balls 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
  12. Make a design on your cookies with a small dish of warm water and a fork. Dip the fork's tines in water each time before you press. You can also try the meat beater to make a pattern, but it wasn't as pretty.
  13. Bake for 18 - 20 minutes until they are brown; rotate the baking sheets between the oven shelves halfway through baking (at ~9 minutes).
  14. The vanilla filling: If you chose to make the vanilla filling, make it while they are baking with a hand mixer. Mix the butter and non-dairy milk slowly adding the powdered xylitol (or powdered sugar) 1/4 cup at a time, mixing until smooth. You may need extra xylitol until it thickens well or matches your desired level of sweetness.
  15. When cookies are finished baking, transfer them to a wire rack to cool.
  16. Once they have cooled, fill them with icing if desired (refrigerate any remaining sandwich cookies) unfilled cookies, or in an airtight container at room temperature.

 

 

Creamy Curried Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup

Potlucks. They are a nightmare for people with food allergies or dietary restrictions. For two years, I didn’t eat at our World Language Department potlucks – I was the party pooper that brought her own meal. One Spanish teacher always used to bring a broccoli cheddar soup made from a mix; however, I can’t eat that obviously because I don’t eat wheat, dairy or eggs. I decided that the broccoli cheddar soup tradition needed a healthy refresh since another colleague would get migraines from the MSG in the soup mix and couldn’t eat it either.

Something that I have missed since changing my diet is a creamy broccoli cheddar soup. I realized that I used to go to Panera Bread A LOT when my 3-year-old suddenly blurted out my phone number at the drive-through window for their rewards program!!! So I decided to make a gluten-free vegan plant-based creamy broccoli soup in a slow cooker not only to keep our potluck tradition but also to satisfy my cravings! Somehow my vision changed into a Creamy Curried Cauliflower and Broccoli Soup!

Creamy CauCreamy Cauliflower & Broccoli Curried Soupliflower & Broccoli Curried Soup

  • Servings: 15
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This Creamy Curried Cauliflower and Broccoli Soup is spicy, vegan, and gluten-free with flavors of lime and ginger; adjust the cayenne spice to meet your preferences.



Credit: myrealdish.com

Ingredients

  • 1 carrot
  • 1 celery
  • 1/2 large onion
  • 1 red pepper
  • 2 cups baby potatoes (I used red and yukon from the Dynamic Duo Little Potato Company)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons garlic or 3 large cloves
  • 1 can coconut cream or full-fat coconut milk (I used Thai Kitchen)
  • 1/2 tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional)
  • 7 oz soft tofu
  • 1 leak
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne (or less for less spice)
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/2  teaspoon yellow curry
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons dried parsley
  • 1 lime (juice of 1 lime)
  • 8 oz cauliflower – use this recipe to bake your own baked cauliflower or use frozen grilled or roasted cauliflower; I’ve used 1/2 of this bag from Trader Joe’s:IMG_1544
  • 8 oz of frozen broccoli
  • 4 drops Young Living Ginger Vitality Essential Oil (you can also use 2 tablespoons fresh or 1 teaspoon dried)
  • 3/4 teaspoon Redmond Real Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper (and extra salt and pepper to taste)
  • 16 ounces gluten-free veggie stock  (I use Kitchen Basics because it’s the only brand here in the US that is both gluten and MSG free).IMG_1555


Directions

  1. If you are going to bake the cauliflower and not use frozen, heat your oven and start preparing it first. Follow the recipe here.
  2. Chop carrots, red pepper, leaks (minus the stalks, just the white bulbs), celery, onion, garlic, and potatoes.
  3. Heat 4 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan & sauté vegetables with ¼ teaspoon Redmond Real Salt and ¼ teaspoon ground pepper. Sauté for 5 – 7 minutes until veggies are tender.
  4. Move vegetable mixture to the crock pot. Add the nutritional yeast, turmeric, curry, dried parsley, juice of 1 lime, 1/2 teaspoon Redmond Real Salt, and 4 drops Young Living Ginger Vitality Essential Oil.IMG_1540 updated
  5. Pour in the vegetable stock.IMG_1548
  6. Purée tofu and coconut cream in the Vitamix or blender until smooth.
  7. Pour tofu cream mixture into the crock pot and combine the cauliflower and broccoli.IMG_1551
  8. Cook in the slower cooker on low for 6 hours.
  9. After it is done, scoop portions into the Vitamix or blender. You will have to purée it in sections and transfer it to a big serving bowl.
  10. Salt & Pepper to taste.
  11. Serve and Enjoy!


Tips for this recipe:

  1. You can read about my dish on cooking with essential oils here, and can purchase them here. Let me teach you how to use them in many ways, both in and out of the kitchen!
  2. Curry – if you are using yellow curry and it’s not coming out the way you like it – an easy fix is with ginger, coconut cream, or lime! These ingredients will help your curry taste just right! So if it’s not the flavor you want in your soup, play around a little more with those three ingredients to get your dish just how you like it!

 

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Mashed Garlic Roasted Cauliflower (Vegan & Paleo)

I’m on a cauliflower kick. Last night, I made Baked Cauliflower and Cauliflower Pizza. Well, I had this idea for a cabbage dish tonight, but my husband picked up an extra cauliflower instead of cabbage at the store; I had to change my plans. I wanted to  make a Shepard’s pie, but I only had three potatoes. I did have cauliflower. Here’s how creations are born – lack of ingredients!

I’ve never tried mashed cauliflower before, but I hear everyone talking about it. The simple baked cauliflower is so delicious, so I figured that it would be as equally delicious mashed. And, I was right. It does have a hummus-ish taste. I’m obsessed! Now, whether or not it’s good on my Shepard’s Pie is another question. I shall report back.

Ingredients

  • Baked Cauliflower 
  • 1 cup vegetable stock (I used Culinary Treasures Organic Vegetable Broth from Costco. It has awesome flavor!)

Directions:

  • Follow directions for the Baked Cauliflower img_8984
  • Once completed, put baked cauliflower in the Vitamix or high-powered blender along with the remaining olive oil, garlic, and onion / shallots from the cookie sheet. IMG_1083 updated.jpg
  • Add 1 cup vegetable stock.IMG_1081.JPG
  • If cooking in the Vitamix, set on high power. Start on low speed and turn up to high.
  • Once blended, pour in a bowl and devour! Or, be like me and attempt a Shepard’s Pie!IMG_1084 mashed caulilfower.jpg

 

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Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (Vegan & Gluten-Free)

We love muffins but spent a long time without them. It isn’t easy to make a gluten-free vegan muffin that rises and isn’t 80% gooey. I’m not saying this muffin isn’t dense because it is; however, it has more volume than I thought would ever be possible with a muffin that I was able to eat.IMG_0980.JPG

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins (Gluten-Free & Vegan)

Ingredients

  • 3 ripe bananas
  • ½ cup cinnamon applesauce
  • 1 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla
  • 1 cup almond flour (I used Blue Almond from Costco)
  • 3/4 cup Namaste Gluten Free Perfect Flour Blend
  • 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼  teaspoon  Redmond’s Real Salt
  • ½ cup chocolate chips (Use Lily’s Baking Chips to make a sugar-free, Paleo & vegan – they are sweetened with stevia, or Enjoy Life chips to make them vegan)
  • ¾ coconut sugar
  • ¼ cup organic pure maple sugar or you can substitute coconut sugar (I bought Coombs Family Farms Maple Sugar at Fresh Thyme)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Mash 3 ripe bananas on a plate. img_0946
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine mashed banana, applesauce, sugars, and vanilla.
  4. Beat until smooth, and set aside.
  5. In a separate small bowl, combine flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir and combine.
  6. Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix until just incorporated. The batter resembles a very thick pancake batter.
  7. Fold in vegan chocolate chips.
  8. Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin and spoon muffin mixture so that each cup is almost full.
  9. Bake on center rack for 29-31 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of one, comes out clean. 29 minutes was perfect for mine.banana chocolate chip muffins 2.jpg

 

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Chocolate Wafer Cookies & Ice Box Cake (Gluten-free & Vegan)

Every year we made an icebox cake for Christmas. My daughter wrote all about it in her tradition story project at school. That’s when I got scared. This was the first year with the kids being wheat, egg, and dairy free. How was I going to make a gluten-free and vegan cake without the Nabisco cookies and whipped topping? I couldn’t break the tradition. See how sweet they are making this cake! My son was 2 here.

Last Christmas, we traveled to Florida to see my mother-in-law, so my husband and I went to the local Walmart on Christmas Eve, in attempt to get Christmas gifts and the ingredients to recreate the treasured icebox cake.  Peace & Calming to the rescue; seriously it helped me survive the crowds and chaos! I deserved the mother of the year award for a trip to Walmart, followed by Toys “R” Us on Christmas Eve!

While at Walmart, I bought Pillsbury Best Multi-Purpose Gluten Free All Purpose Flour Blend, Smart Balance (Vegan Butter), and Hershey’s Cocoa Powder. I was sincerely surprised at how delicious and crisp these gluten-free vegan chocolate wafers were, and very inexpensive! FYI,  I don’t recommend the heavy coconut cream from Wal-Mart, it has tons of sugar and water, because of the dilution it doesn’t whip well – it tastes like marshmallows. I prefer the Trader Joe’s Brand or Tai Kitchen full-fat coconut cream. Or, if you’re lazy, you can use the CocoWhip!, but it will taste more like Cool Whip.

Since it was Christmas, my mother-in-law requested that I try to stick to traditional cane sugar and cocoa powder instead of cacao and coconut sugar. I get it, she didn’t want to “ruin” the cookies with my typical healthier experimentation. I’ll have to experiment another time and report back!

Regardless, my mother-in-law (who had wanted to go buy the Nabisco cookies and make her own separate cake) declared, “These are really really good! Are you going to put these on your blog? You should!” I take that as a vegan gluten-free win!

Chocolate Wafer Cookies (Gluten-Free  & Vegan)

  • 1 1/2 cups (6.75 ounces) gluten-free all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup (2.4 ounces) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 14 tablespoons vegan butter, slightly softened (I used Smart Balance)
  • 3 tablespoons coconut cream or full-fat coconut milk (I prefer Trader Joe’s brand)
  • 1 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Combine the gluten-free flour, cocoa, sugar, salt, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Using a pastry cutter, scoop 1 tablespoon of vegan butter at a time into the bowl, continually combining with the pastry cutter as you incorporate each tablespoon. (If you don’t have a pastry cutter, you could put them in a Vitamix or a food processor).
  3. Combine the coconut cream and vanilla in a small cup.
  4. Add the liquid mixture and continue to combine with the pastry cutter until it is fully combined.
  5. Knead a few times to make sure that it is evenly blended with your hands.
  6. Transfer the dough onto a cutting board lined with wax paper or foil.
  7. Form the dough into a log about 14 inches long and 1 3/4 inches in diameter.img_9255
  8. Wrap the log in wax paper or foil and refrigerate until firm, at least one hour, or until needed.
  9. Place your oven racks on the top and bottom slots.
  10. Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.
  11. Using a pastry cutter (the Betty Crocker with measurements printed is great for this), slice the cookies as thinly as possible.
  12. Place them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper approximately 1 inch apart. The first time I placed them too close like this and they grew together but were easily separated. The next time I placed them 1 inch apart and they were perfect.img_9286
  13. Cook for 6 minutes on the top rack of the oven. After 6 minutes, transfer them to the lower rack and cook for another 6 – 9 minutes.

Makes ~60 cookies if you slice them very thin. What’s good about these cookies is that they are flat at the bottom and are perfect for making an icebox cake!

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Icebox Cake (Gluten-Free & Vegan)

Ingredients:

  • Chocolate Wafers
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 can coconut cream or full-fat milk  (refrigerated overnight)

Directions:

  1. First, make the vegan coconut whipped cream. Since I made this dairy free, I used 1 can coconut cream (you can also use full-fat coconut milk) that had been in the fridge overnight and ¼ cup powdered sugar. Mix with a mixer on high until fluffy. If you don’t have a good mixer, you can use a Vitamix, or put your metal bowl in the freezer before whipping the cream.IMG_9451.JPG
  2. Then, ice your gluten-free vegan chocolate wafers and create a stack of cookies.
  3. After four sandwich cookies lay them on a wax paper covered tray, and continue to put a layer of whip cream on each chocolate wafer, lay it down on the tray creating a row of cookies. Repeat this for three rows. If you’re fancy you can try to make a design – like a Christmas tree with your icebox cake, but I’d try traditional rows for the first time.
  4. Carefully push the chocolate wafer rows together with a cookie inside the filling of another. Then, smooth the vegan whip cream around the entire outside of the cookies.
  5. The icebox cake needs to sit overnight. The wafers will soak up the cream and become soft. Note how the chocolate wafers absorb the coconut cream.img_9378-updated
  6. So in the meantime, the kids didn’t want to wait. I took extra chocolate wafers, put them in a cupcake liner, topped them with coconut cream, and enjoyed them right away! They are little mini-icebox cupcakes!img_9369

What are some of your favorite holiday food traditions or recipes?

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Inspiration: https://smittenkitchen.com/2009/03/homemade-chocolate-wafers-icebox-cupcakes/. I adapted her recipe to make it gluten and dairy free (vegan) and changed the directions.

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2 Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes

 

My Quest for the Perfect Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie

All the cool gluten-free kids talk about almond flour, because it’s low in carbohydrates, high in fiber and a high source of protein...blah blah blah. I felt like I should experiment with it, but I’d been sheepish because sometimes nuts bother my stomach. When I’m making a gluten-free vegan cookie, I want a nice texture so that you don’t know that it’s vegan and gluten-free. And, when I’ve experimented in the past with dense nut flours, they offer a different texture. I’m especially picky because I love Namaste Gluten Free Perfect Flour Blend. It rises well, and is the most similar to actual wheat flour that I’ve tried; my cakes, cookies, and cupcakes rise light and fluffy. I buy it cheapest in bulk at Costco. However, it’s available online at vitacost.com if you don’t have a Costco membership or a store close, and don’t want to pay an arm and a leg.

Speaking of Costco, while I was there I walked by this bag of Blue Diamond Almond Flour. I figured if I’m going to experiment – go big or go home! There was a chocolate chip recipe on the back, so they must rise and make a decent cookie, right?! Here’s how I adapted the recipe to make it vegan and cane sugar-free. Note: I played around with it, and it could not be made completely vegan and not mushy without adding in another flour.

Oh, the decisions… I made two batches of chocolate chip cookies for a taste test: one with Blue Diamond Almond Flour and the other with my treasured Namaste Gluten Free Perfect Flour Blend; then I let my family and friends say which one was best. The taste test was on!

Tips for Making them Vegan:

  • To eliminate eggs: You will need an egg replacer (I use Ener‑G Egg Replacer – it’s available at Whole Foods, Fresh Thyme, and Amazon) AND you will need half of a banana or ¼ cup applesauce regardless of using egg replacer. If you skip the banana or the applesauce, they will be too dry and crumbly. 
  • To eliminate dairy: You will need an alternative to “butter.” I used Smart Balance because they had it at Costco, and I was on a shopping mission that day, but I’ve had great results withEarth Balance too. I love that Earth Balance comes in easy to use sticks instead of just a container.

Tips for Making Them Sugarcane Free:

  1. Organic Pure Maple Sugar instead of brown sugar – you can buy the Coombs Family Farms Maple Sugar brand from Fresh Thyme or Whole Food. I also like Pure Indiana Maple Sugar that I get from a local co-op. It is a great flavor, it has a lower glycemic index than sugar, and contains important antioxidants and minerals like zinc and manganese.
  2. Coconut sugar instead of cane sugar – coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than regular table sugar because it contains a fiber called inulin, which may slow glucose absorption. A lower glycemic index means that you don’t get as much of a sugar rush and insulin spike with maple syrup sugar and coconut sugar.
  3. Chocolate chips –Lily’s Baking Chips are sugar-free and are sweetened with stevia. Vitacost has them for less than the store. They are awesome. If you can’t find any Enjoy Life contain cane sugar, but are vegan, dairy free, soy free, and allergy friendly option. My mom used carob chips growing up, but I just don’t like the flavor they provide.

If you aren’t sugar conscientious, then just throw in the brown sugar and the sugar cane. However, if you give these a chance, you will never taste the difference.

Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie With Almond Flour

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Combine gluten-free and almond flours, baking soda, and Redmond’s Real Salt in a small bowl.
  3. Prepare your egg replacer (take with 3 teaspoons egg replacer, 4 tablespoons warm water, and mix until it thickens)
  4. Beat vegan butter, sugars, and vanilla in large bowl until creamy.
  5. Egg replacer 
  6. Gradually beat in dry ingredients.
  7. Add in the ½ banana and continue to mix.
  8. Stir in the chocolate chips
  9. Drop tablespoons of dough on a lightly greased cookie sheet. I used a knife to get the dough out of the tablespoon because they were very sticky, and then gently smoothed the top. If you don’t smooth the top with your hand – they will look jagged like the top right image. 
  10. Bake for 12 – 15 minutes until they are lightly browned on top and firm to the touch. (I baked them for 12 minutes)
  11. Cool for 2 minutes then move to wire racks to cool completely.
  12. Makes ~2 dozen cookies

Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Combine gluten-free flour, baking soda, and Redmond’s Real Salt in a small bowl.
  3. Prepare your egg replacer (take with 3 teaspoons egg replacer, 4 tablespoons warm water, and mix until it thickens)
  4. Beat vegan butter, sugars, and vanilla in large bowl until creamy.
  5. Add Egg replacer.
  6. Gradually beat in dry ingredients.
  7. Add ½ of the banana for vegan cookies
  8. Stir in vegan chocolate chips.
  9. Drop by small rounded teaspoon onto greased cookie sheet.
  10. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. (I cooked them for 11)
  11. Cool for 2 minutes then move to wire racks to cool completely.
  12. Makes ~34 cookies

Taste Test Results

Both are delicious, and you would never know that they were vegan and gluten-free! The appearance is smoother and lighter with the Namaste Gluten Free Perfect Flour Blend cookie; you must smooth out the top of the Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookie if you want it to look like rounded and smooth. The Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookie Cookie is denser and a tad sweeter, which is rare, because it has less sugar. I consider that a plus! It also has a crunchier browner outside. The gluten-free vegan chocolate chip cookie with theNamaste Gluten Free Perfect Flour Blend has a softer texture, more like a normal cookie, and is a little lighter color. You really can’t go wrong with either one! After tasting the almond flour vegan chocolate chip cookie, I have visions of chocolate almond flour cookies dancing in my head!

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Broccoli Carrot Slaw With Cranberry Dressing (Vegan & Gluten-Free)

Ever wonder what to do with the extra cranberries in your fridge from Thanksgiving? Here’s your answer! I’m a Trader Joe’s fan, because I feel like they make it easy for me to throw together something that is quick and healthy to eat. I was inspired by the recipe on the back of the bag, but I modified it to make it my own and tried to use some of the fresh cranberries from my fridge! I’m always searching for ways that I can veggies a full meal. This slaw is so filling that I can eat it a huge bowl of it for lunch, and it’s healthy and delicious. Plus, it’s a hit with my daughter that loves the color pink, and it adds a nice punch of color to the table.

Vegan Broccoli Carrot Slaw

  • 1 bag Organic Broccoli Slaw from Trader Joe’s
  • 2 small apples
  • ½ cup nuts optional – (I did Candied Walnuts from Trader Joe’s)

Cranberry Dressing

  • ¾ cup vegan mayo (I used Trader Joe’s)
  • 1 ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar (I used Bragg Organic)
  • 1 ½ tablespoon Xylitol (I use the XyloBurst brand. You can sweeten to your preference with the sweetener of your choice. Stevia is another good option, or just regular sugar works.)
  • ½ cup fresh cranberries
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Let’s talk about Xylitol. I try to avoid sugar when I can. Although, sometimes I make a quick gluten free box cake, brownies, or cookies when I’m stressed for time. However, when I cook from scratch, I skip the sugar if possible. Why did I use Xylitol?

  1. It is a natural sweetener derived from the birch trees (check the label to make sure that it’s not from corn).
  2. It has 40% fewer calories and 75% fewer carbs than sugar
  3. It is just as sweet as sugar
  4. It’s what they put in natural chewing gum, because it can help keep a neutral pH level in the mouth and it prevents bacteria from sticking to the teeth.
  5. It’s better for your teeth and health, and tastes great!

Directions

  1. Prepare your vegan cranberry dressing. Put cranberries, vegan mayo, apple cider vinegar and xylitol in your Vitamix or blender / food processor.
  2. Puree until blended and smooth. If you do not have fresh cranberries, don’t worry, just skip them and include ½ cup dried cranberries in with your slaw. Pour ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.
  3. Cut your apples into small chunks
  4. Combine broccoli slaw and cranberry dressing and combine until evenly distributed.
  5. Mix in apples and nuts (if desired). If you are using dried cranberries, mix them in now. Stir until evenly coated in dressing.
  6. Salt and pepper to taste
  7. Serve and eat!

What do you like to do with your thanksgiving leftovers?

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