Chocolate Mousse Mini Pies

This chocolate mousse is delicious, rich, creamy and makes a wonderful mini pie. It could also be served as pudding. These simple ingredients go into your food processor and become smooth and creamy. Then either fill mini graham cracker crusts or add to a pretty serving bowl for a lovely dessert. 

• 1 12-ounce box Mori-Nu Silken Tofu Extra Firm
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 package mini graham cracker pie crust
• Shaved dark chocolate for garnish, optional

All all the ingredients except for pie crusts and garnish to a food processor or blender. Blend, stopping occasionally to scrape down the bowl. 

Continue to blend until the mixture is totally mixed and is creamy.

Pour into mini pie crusts.

Top with shaved dark chocolate or vegan whipped cream or berries. Chill for at least 2 hours before enjoying to allow it to thicken.

Enjoy!!!!!

Blackened Tofu Tacos (WFPBNO)

I made these for Taco Tuesday and boy were they good. I had a bag of coleslaw mix in the frig that needed to be used. So, I opted to use that instead of lettuce. I made the sauce using plant based yogurt and Dr. McDougall's mayo recipe. I know the pic is a pic of a plant based Hellman's jar. But, it was washed out and that is what I stored my McDougall mayo in. His recipe is online and it's free. The leftovers heat up well in an air-fryer or toaster oven and the tofu would make a good addition to a salad.

For the sauce:

• 1/4 cup vegan mayo, I used Dr. McDougall's recipe
• 1/4 cup vegan yogurt, unsweetened
• 2 teaspoons blackened seasoning
• lime juice to taste, I used 1/2 a lime

For the tofu:

• 1 14-ounce package of extra firm tofu, drained and pressed
• 3 tablespoons blackened seasoning

For the tacos:

• flour tortillas
• avocado
• cabbage or coleslaw mix
• lime wedges for serving, optional

Press your toful between a folded kitchen towel. I use the lid to my Dutch oven to press my tofu.

Add all the sauce ingredients to a small bowl and mix to combine. 

Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking.

Press the tofu for about 30 minutes.

Then lice into 16 sticks.

Add the seasoning mix to a bowl or plate.

 

Dredge the tofu, coating all the sides.

Add to a plate.

Preheat your toaster oven or air-fryer. I used my toaster oven set at 350F. Add the tofu to a baking dish covered with parchment paper.

Baked until the tofu was brown and firm. About 15-20 minutes.

Heat the tortillas. To make a taco: add avocado, cabbage/slaw and tofu to each tortilla. Drizzle on some sauce and serve with hot sauce or lime wedges. I also heat some fat free refried beans as a side.

Another Taco Tuesday in the books!!

Enjoy!!!

Spicy Stir-Fried Noodles (WFPBNO)

I had a little of this and a little of that in the frig. I wasn't sure how to use it up. I decided to do a stir-fry with noodles, which I seem to have an abundance of these days. So, feel free to use what you have in the frig and whip up this dish. It's not that spicy to me but for those of  you that are sensitive you may want to start with less sambal oelek (chile paste with garlic). You can always add more to your plate and give it a good stir. This made about 6 servings; if you use less veg or more you may get a different amount of servings. 

• 1 recipe Ginger Garlic Tofu
• 1 pound long pasta, I used a thin fettuccini
• 1 heaping tablespoon minced cheater garlic
• 1 head baby bok choy
• 3-4 handfuls baby spinach
• 1 1/2 cups broccoli florets
• 3 tablespoons sambal oelek (chili paste with garlic)
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce 

Be sure your tofu is cooking before you start this dish. Start your water to cook your pasta. Make the sauce: add the chile paste, lime juice, hoisin and soy sauce to a bowl. Taste, if you want it sweet add a drop of  honey or maple syrup. Set aside.

While the pasta cooks add your steam basket the last few minutes and steam the broccoli florets. Once pasta is done remove from water with the broccoli and set the water aside. You may need 1/2 cups or so to thin out your sauce.

To a large pan or Dutch oven add a few tablespoons of water and saute the garlic for 30 seconds, stirring frequently. 

Add the cooked pasta to the pan and stir well.

Add the spinach and broccoli to the pasta. Toss well. Turn off the heat, but leave the pan on the burner.

Add the sauce and toss to combine everything. If it's too dry add a little of your pasta water.

Plate the pasta and add some tofu to your dish. Feel free to garnish with sesame seeds, sliced scallions or some red pepper flakes. I add a squirt of Sriracha to mine.

Curry Noodles with Veggies (WFPBNO)

This homemade curry sauce is delicious! You can speed things up by using a frozen package of stir-fry vegetables.  Or, do what I did and use up some of that fresh produce you have in the kitchen. Be sure to make your Thai Red Curry Sauce before you start cooking. Also, if you are using fresh vegetables be sure to get them all prepped and ready to drop into your pan.

Thai Red Curry Sauce:

• 1 cup jarred roasted red bell peppers
• 1/4 of a medium sweet onion, cut into large pieces
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 2 tablespoons garlic, minced (I use cheater garlic - bought it minced)
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
• 5 dried chiles de arbol, seeds removed (if you aren't into heat just use 1)
• 3 tablespoons coconut sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 drop lemongrass essential oil or 1/2 teaspoon ground lemongrass
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon lime zest
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter

Add all of the ingredients except peanut butter, to a small blender. Add 1 cup water.

Process until blended well.

Transfer to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10 minutes.

Stir in peanut butter and cook another minute. Remove from heat and set aside.

For noodles and veggies:

• 1 8-ounce package noodles, I used stir-fry noodles
• 1 pound of veggies I used
• sliced mushrooms
• sliced red bell pepper
• slivered sweet onion
• snow peas
• bamboo shoots
• 1 8-ounce package seasoned tofu, cubed
• 1 tablespoon crushed roasted peanuts for garnish

Cook noodles according to package directions. Add veggies to a nonstick skillet with a tablespoon or two of water to stir-fry without using oil.

Once noodles are done, drain and add them to the stir-fry. Add tofu and the curry sauce and mix, so that everything is coated in the sauce.

Serve garnished with the peanuts. You could also use sesame seeds, lime wedges or cilantro.

Enjoy!!!!!

Thai Stir-Fry (WFPBNO)

 This meal comes together pretty quick. Be sure you have all of your ingredients prepped before you begin cooking. Feel free to substitute other veggies instead of what I have listed. You want to use up the veggies in your frig! If you don't have coconut sugar you can sub brown sugar, if you don't like heat leave out the jalapeno, I deseeded mine and it wasn't hot at all. I served this stir-fry with an Asian salad mix I bought from my local grocery store. Enjoy and have fun in the kitchen!!

• 1/2 cup sliced sweet onion
• 1 heaping tablespoon pre-minced garlic
• 1 jalapeno, thinly sliced
• 5 ounces thinly sliced baby bella mushrooms
• 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 6 ounces rice noodles, wide as you can find

-------------------------------------------------------

• 1/2 bell pepper, sliced - I used red
• 1 cup chopped broccoli
• 2 1/2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon molasses
• 1 tablespoon vegan oyster sauce
• 2 teaspoons coconut sugar
• 1 teaspoon corn starch
• 2 tablespoons Thai basil
• sliced green onion, for garnish
• I also made a batch of oven baked tofu to go with this.

Heat a couple of tablespoons of water in a large non-stick skillet. Add onion, garlic and jalapeno and cook until onion is translucent. 

Add mushrooms and cook 3 minutes.

Add 1 tablespoon soy sauce and the broth.

Bring to boil.

Add the pasta and press them under the water. Cook covered if you can; mine try to steam up and I had to uncover them and stir, repeatedly. Cook based on package directions for length of time.

Stir the rest of the soy sauce, molasses, oyster sauce, sugar and corn starch into a small bow. 

Add the veggies to the stir fry and give it a good stir. 

Add the mixture from the bowl to the stir-fry and stir until thickened. Add the Thai basil and green onions. Stir and then serve.

Serve, garnished with the tofu. I had a prefab Asian salad that I served on the side. 

Enjoy!!!