Cranberry Orange Loaf

During the holidays I usually make loaf breads for us and mini loaves or small bundts to give away as gifts. I had left over cranberries from Thanksgiving and decided to give this recipe a try. We loved it. It's especially lovely during the holidays with the red berries. I'm sure you could use this same recipe and use blueberries or some other type of berry.

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup sugar
• zest of half an orange
• 3/4 cup soy milk
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1/3 cup applesauce, unsweet, natural
• 1 tablespoon orange juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup fresh cranberries, run a knife through them a few times

Glaze:

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon orange juice 

Preheat oven to 350 and lightly spray a loaf pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl sift dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Add orange zest, mix; set aside.

In a separate bowl, whisk together wet ingredients: milk, oil, applesauce, orange juice and vanilla.

Slowly mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir until just combined.

Roughly chop the cranberries.

Fold the cranberries into the batter.

Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake for about an hour. You may have to bake it longer depending on the size of your loaf pan. Keep an eye on the loaf and when a toothpick comes out clean it's ready to remove.

Cool in the pan for about 15 minutes.

Remove from pan and let cool completely before glazing. 

Mix the powdered sugar and orange juice until there are no lumps and pour over cooled loaf.

Enjoy! Store loaf tightly wrapped in plastic wrap in the frig for 4-5 days. If it lasts that long.

Avocado Benedict

I remember having Eggs Benedict for breakfast before we went vegan. It was one of our favorite breakfast or brunch dishes. I've missed it, a lot. I saw this recipe for Tofu Avocado Benedict and based my recipe on it. I followed the Hollandaise Sauce recipe but doubled it since I like lots of sauce. So, my doubled version is below. I am going to make this again this weekend- it's that good! I served this with pan fried hash browns. Makes 2 servings.

Benedict

• 1 English Muffin
• 2 thick slices tomato
• 2 Gardein Breakfast Patties
• 1 handful of broccoli shoots
• 1/2 Haas avocado

*I don't know how I missed getting a pic of the ingredients, but I did. Note to self, get one when I make this again.

Hollandaise Sauce

• 4 tablespoons Earth Balance butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk
• 2 1/2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• 4-6 teaspoons lemon juice (to taste)
• salt and pepper 
• pinch of cayenne
• pinch of turmeric (for good color)

To make Hollandaise Sauce place vegan butter in a small sauce pan and bring to boil. Add flour and whisk until it forms a paste. Slowly add milk, whisking continuously until well combined. Bring sauce to a boil, whisking frequently, until sauce begins to thicken (about 1-2 minutes). Remove from heat and add nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and seasoning. Stir together. Set aside.

To assemble the Benedict, slice the muffin in half and toast.

Top each muffin half with a small amount of broccoli shoots.

Place a slice of tomato on each.

Place a cooked sausage patty on the tomato.

Smother in Hollandaise Sauce.

Finish with sliced avocado and serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Black-Eyed Peas & Collard Stew

We're growing our own collard and turnip greens this year. It is so cool to go out and cut off the leaves needed for a dish and let the plants continue to produce more for future meals. We love greens and adore black-eyed peas. We grew black-eyed peas in our garden when we lived in Texas, talk about fun!!!! So without further ado here's a delicious stew for the cooler weather using both of these ingredients. I added Tofurky Italian sausages for extra yumminess.

• 2 uncooked Tofurky Italian sausages, sliced into half moons
• 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large bell pepper, chopped (I used yellow)
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups no-chicken stock, I used Better Than Bouillon base mixed with water)
• 2 can black-eyed peas, drained
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
• 2 cups roughly chopped collard greens (remove tough middle stem)
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

In a medium Dutch oven or heavy soup pot, cook sausages until brown on both sides. Set aside.

Add 1/4 cup water to pan and heat. Add onions and bell pepper and saute for 3-4 minutes. 

Add garlic and cook another 2-3 minutes.

Add no-chicken broth, peas, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, simmer for 15 minutes.

Add tomatoes, collards, vinegar and liquid smoke. Simmer for 10-15 minutes. Add sausages the last 3-4 minutes.

Remove from heat and serve immediately. Makes 4-6 servings. 

Enjoy!