Fried Foods: Jalapeno Poppers and Onion Rings

2 cups of bread crumbs (I like Kikkoman)
1/3 cup nutritional yeast
1 cup flour
12-15 jalapenos
Daiya cheddar
1 sweet onion
1 cup water or soymilk
vegetable (soybean) oil

1: For the poppers, cut the tops off of the jalapenos and de-seed.  Squish chunks of Daiya together with a bit of salt and stuff each popper. Set aside.
2: In a small bowl, mix the flour and nutritional yeast together.  Add water/soymilk slowly and stir until the mixture is doughy and stretchy enough to cover the jalapenos.
3: Place breadcrumbs in a medium-sized bowl.  You may want to add your own dried herbs, salt and pepper, whatever your preference.
4: Warm enough oil on low-medium heat in a pan to cover one side of the popper/onion.
5: Roll the jalapenos in the dough mixture until covered.  This requires a bit of work, as they have a slick skin that does not hold the dough well.  I like to put a layer on, let it dry a little bit and add more dough.
6: Roll into the breadcrumb mixture until completely covered and then drop into the warmed oil.  Be careful to fry until lightly golden and to turn with a fork or tongs. 
7: Remove from oil and place on a paper towel to drain.  Enjoy!

 

For the onion rings, simply slice your sweet onion into chunky pieces and follow Steps 2-7.  

Root Beer Float

Yum!

1 pint of Vanilla Bean So Delicious Coconut Milk Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert
1 can of A&W Root Beer

The directions for this treat are self-explanatory, but I just wanted to say that, personally, I prefer Hansen's Creamy Root Beer in this recipe, but A&W is the second best as far as creaminess goes.  This combination makes two floats.

Taco Nachos

Light Life ground beef-style
Taco Seasoning or a cumin/paprika combination seasoned to taste
Daiya Cheddar cheese
lettuce
salsa
onions
hot sauce
Doritos Sweet and Spicy Chili chips

So yesterday I made tacos for lunch and had leftover ingredients, so I decided to try a spicy nacho thing.  Instead of shells, I replaced them with Doritos Sweet and Spicy Chili chips.  I then melted Daiya on them and added whatever was leftover.  Yum!

Sloppy Joe's

 

1 package Lightlife Gimme Lean Ground Beef Style
1 can Manwich meal
onion hamburger buns

1: Brown the Lightlife in a saucepan on medium heat.
2: Add Manwich meal, as directions on the can state (obvious! lol)
3: Toast bun, add mixture and enjoy.

This recipe is self explanatory, but I also wanted to say that in addition to this simple way to make them, I also like to add sauteed onions and melted Daiya. Yum!

Crispy BLT Bagel

So. Much. Better. Than. Tempeh!

6 strips of Smart Bacon
2 leaves of green lettuce
tomato slices
Vegenaise
2 everything bagels

1: Bake the Smart Bacon in a toaster oven on 425 for about 15 minutes or until as crispy as you'd like.  Tip: This bacon tastes the best when the outer edges are crispy and the inner part is still fairy soft.
2: Lightly toast bagel separately.
3: Assemble sandwich and enjoy!

Fancy Français Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 cup white flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/3 teaspoon salt
1 stick (or 1/2 cup) Earth Balance
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 egg replacer (I like to use 11/2 tsp flax)
Optional: 1/3 cup soy milk

1: Preheat oven to 375ºF
2: Very thoroughly mix all ingredients together, dry ingredients first, then wet ingredients.  Continue by adding soy milk (or water) one teaspoon at a time until mixture sticks together when squeezed (but is still a little bit crumbly).
3: Roll the batter out and create shapes using cookie cutters or do as I did and cut into squares with a pizza cutter.
4: Bake on a non-greased cookie sheet for 7-8 minutes.  Watch the time; remove from oven when slightly browned on the bottom.

Creamy Sugar Frosting:
2 cups confectioner's sugar
2 tbsp Earth Balance
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
Up to 3 tbsp of soy milk (add one tsp at a time until you reach the desired consistency)
neon food coloring

Fudge Frosting:
1 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1/2 cup Hershey's powdered cocoa
2 tbsp Earth Balance
1 tbsp vanilla extract
Up to 3 tbsp of soy milk (add one tsp at a time until you reach the desired consistency)

TLT Sandwich

Tempeh, Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich

naan bread
Smoky Maple Bacon Marinated Tempeh
roma tomato
lettuce
Vegenaise

1: On medium heat, add enough olive oil to lightly coat a non-stick pan.  Add bacon strips and cook for three minutes on each side.
2: Lightly toast or warm flatbread.
3: Slice tomatoes, lettuce and add Vegenaise to flatbread.

Sausage Mac & Cheese

shell pasta
Tofurkey Italian Sausage (2)
1/2 package of Daiya Mozzarella
3 tbsp Earth Balance
seasoning (salt, pepper, Trader Joes' 21 Season Salute and/or parsley flakes)

1: Slice and saute two Italian sausages with a bit of olive oil.  Set aside.
2: Boil shell noodles until cooked al dente then strain and return to pot.
3: Add Daiya and Earth Balance and cook on medium until melted.
4: Season to your taste and enjoy!

*I made this reminiscing my mother's recipe of mac and cheese with ring baloney (eek!).

Simple Quesadillas

burrito-size tortilla

Daiya Mozzarella style

Daiya Cheddar style

Salsa

Earth Balance

1: Lightly butter one side of tortilla and place on medium-heat pan.

2: Add both kinds of cheese and a bit of salsa.  You can add peppers and olives if you'd like too, but I'm going for simple with this one. 

3: Butter another tortilla and place it on top.  Flip after side one is lightly browned (hopefully not as browned/burnt as the one pictured above!  Lol!)
4: Cut into 4 and enjoy! :)

Note: Sometimes I add black beans in there too. ;)

Fillo Pizza Bites

1 roll of Fillo
2 cups tomato sauce
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
oregano
paprika
italian seasoning
more oregano
Daiya mozzarella cheese


1: Preheat oven to 400 F
2: Heat tomato sauce on low adding small minced onions, herbs and spices.

3: Roll the fillo dough out (very carefully!!) and slice down the middle with a pizza cutter.  A knife will rip it, so I recommend not using one.

4: Put one tablespoon of the sauce mix on the left side with about one tablespoon of Daiya.

5: Fold ingredients into a triangle all the way down the length of fillo so as to seal the pizza bite.

6: Arrange on a cookie sheet and bake for about 4 minutes on each side.  You can also brush some olive oil on them to get them extra crisp.  I chose to do this for my first batch, but discontinued after realizing the fillo crisped enough on its own (for my taste).  Enjoy!