Bean & Cheese Burritos

"How do you get your protein?"  Vegans and Vegetarians everywhere *love* that question!  Let's just eat our beans...  *wink*

1 can pinto beans
4 flour tortilla
1/2 onion
8 slices of Daiya Havarti cheese
Annie's organic balsamic vinaigrette
salt & pepper
about 1 tsp cumin

Makes 4 burritos

1: Preheat oven to 375
2: Slice up onion and saute with olive oil, salt, pepper and cumin
3: Add beans and simmer for about 5 minutes on low-medium
4: Melt two slices of Daiya Havarti on tortilla in microwave for about 30 seconds

5: Add beans

6: Add balsamic vinaigrette

7: Wrap up the burritos and bake in the oven for about 8-10 minutes, depending on how crispy you like them

8: Very delicious to eat while hot, but also looooove these reheated... just as tasty!

Note: Add more Daiya if you like them extra "cheesy" :)

Alternative: Butter Pecan Ice Cream Cone

Normally, I am not a big fan of soy dessert products, but this butter pecan flavor is so delightful... a perfect after dinner treat!

1/2 pint So Delicious Butter Pecan Soy Frozen Dessert
2 cake cones (read the ingredients, please!)

Makes 2 cones.

Creamy Roma Tomato Pasta

The perfect meal for a light pasta-coma... just slice up a baguette with salt & peppered olive oil to dip!

1/2 pack penne pasta
1/3 block (3 tbsp) Daiya Havarti wedge
1 diced de-seeded roma tomato (or more if you really like tomatoes)
2 tbsp Earth Balance
1 tsp dried parsley

Makes: 2 large servings

1: Cook pasta according to direction.
2: Add chunks of Daiya Harvarti and Earth Balance and cook on medium until melted

 3: Turn the burner down to low and add diced roma

 4: Cook until everything is mixed well, then add parsley.  Serve immediately

White Chocolate Cashew Popcorn

Something about Autumn gives me such a sweet-tooth!  Perhaps I am putting on an extra layer for the winter and if so, I see more hot yoga in my future!  For now, let's eat without worry...

1 mini pack of Orville Redenbacher's kettle corn
3 tbsp white chocolate chips
1/2 tsp vanilla extra
3 tbsp cashew pieces

Makes: 1 serving

1: Pop kettle corn in microwave for 1 minute 40 seconds

2: Melt white chocolate chips and vanilla together for 30 seconds in the microwave and then whip it together

3: Drizzle white chocolate over popcorn

 4: Mix in cashew pieces and lay out flat until chocolate is dry

Chicken & Havarti Sandwich

I may have made this for dinner two days in a row...shh! It's very filling and is a whole meal within itself.  Who doesn't love a good sammich?

5 Gardein Seven Grain Crispy Tenders (1/2 pack)
1 ciabatta bread
2 slices of Daiya Havarti style
lettuce

Makes: 1 sandwich (but if you make the whole bag of crispy tenders, you can make 2)

1: Preheat oven to 430 degrees
2: Melt 2 slices of Daiya Havarti on one half of ciabatta bread in microwave for 40 seconds (the spread the cheese) or put them in the oven if you want the bread toasted

3: Bake tenders for 15 minutes, flip and bake for 10 more minutes
4: Add to ciabatta bread

5: Top with lettuce and top bun and there you have it!

Sweet Acorn Squash

A little evening treat... or as a side to one of your favorite fall dishes!

1 acorn squash
3 tbsp brown sugar

Makes: 4 servings

1: Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2: Slice acorn squash in half

3: Scoop out seeds and cut each piece in half again for a total of four pieces

4: Melt brown sugar and Earth Balance in the microwave for 30 seconds

5: Stir until nice and thick

6: Drizzle over squash quarters

7: Bake for about 25 minutes until fleshy part of squash is softened to your liking
8: Serve warm just like this or scoop them out and serve in dollops like mashed potatoes

Bacon & Havarti Ciabatta Sandwich

Oh-my-goodness!  Loooooved this sandwich.  It was smokey, it was creamy...it was dreamy!

1 ciabatta square bread
1/2 package of Smart Bacon
2 slices of Daiya Havarti style wedge
lettuce

1: Cook Smart Bacon in pan with olive oil on medium until crisp

2: Add two slices of Daiya Havarti to one half of ciabatta bread and microwave for 40 seconds

3: Spread melted cheese on bread

4: Add Smart Bacon and lettuce and serve immediately while Harvarti is still warm

Chocolate Chip Frappe

So it was midnight and my Bear challenged me to make a frappe in the style of the Java Chip flavor at my favorite coffee chain...and I gladly accepted!  It's a work in progress, but I'd say it turned out delightful for a first try!

1 6oz cup of coffee
1/2 cup Silk Very Vanilla soy milk
1 tbsp hot cocoa
10-12 ice cubes
2 tbsp Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips

Optional: Hershey

Tools: Blender & Coffee Maker (or use instant, if you'd like)

Makes: 1 beverage

1: Make a 6 oz cup of coffee.  I like to use my own coffee with the Ekobrew (highly recommend!!!):

2: Put everything (minus the chocolate chips) in the blender.  If you have the time to think about this in advance, cool the coffee in the refrigerator for a bit before you make this... it's essential for having more of a slushy drink

3: When ice is completely blended, add the chocolate chips and pulse a few times so as to keep some of the chocolate chips chunky

4: If you really like chocolate, add a bit of Hershey's syrup on top for fun!

Note: Get creative!  Add some vanilla, peppermint or any other flavors that you might like with chocolate (peanut butter?)...  :)

Bacon & Havarti Potatoes

My omnivore Bear had a craving for some au gratin style potatoes, inspiration struck and I decided to try my hand at a little vegan variation...and who doesn't like bacon?  These were super delicious the next day as leftovers as well.

6 red potatoes
1 package of Smart Bacon
green onions
Daiya Havarti-style wedge

Makes: 4 side dish servings

1: Cook Smart Bacon on stovetop until crisp.  Set aside to cool.
2: Thinly slice red potatoes and green onions and place in a medium-sized pan with olive oil

3: Crumble cooled bacon over potatoes and add chunks of havarti Daiya and cover.  Cook on medium-low, stirring occasionally for about half hour, until potatoes are softened

4: Add salt & cracked pepper if you'd like. 

Bacon-Lettuce-Tomato Wrap

This is nice if you're trying to cut back on carbs/calories... the flatbread is a perfect size for a nice lunch sandwich.

1/2 package Smart Bacon
1 Flatout Foldit Rosemary & Olive Oil Flatbread
lettuce
roma tomato slices
Vegenaise mayonnaise
salt & cracked pepper

Makes: 1 wrap (2 if you make the entire package of Smart Bacon)

1: Warm a bit of olive oil in a frying pan on medium and heat until desired crispiness

2: Spread Vegenaise on wrap, add Smart Bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and a bit of salt & pepper.  SO good! :)

3: Serve with a bowl of soup or salad to complete the meal

S'mores

Not going to lie, I ate four squares of these... and I'm not even that into sweets!  So much fun watching the marshmallows balloon up in the microwave!  This is a perfect mini "cooking" project to do with the kiddies.

2 Honey Maid honey grahams (generic brands have dairy in them)
2 small scoops of Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips
a few Dandies (or Sweet & Sara) vegan marshmallows

Makes: 2 smores squares

1: Break grahams in half and put one scoop of chocolate chips and two marshmallows on each square
2: Place top cracker on and lightly push down

3: Microwave for about 15 seconds and there you have it!

Note: The marshmallow gets huge in the microwave, so if you try to "radiate" (heh heh) this without a top cracker on it, the marshmallow will balloon all over the plate!

*This recipe contains honey.