I'm Getting The Hang Of This Whole Vegan Thing ...

Hey hey hey, Gnawers!  Happy Monday to you!  I got home tonight and jumped right into making dinner without even changing out of my work clothes. I can't remember the last time I did that... maybe the year 2000?  I have always been a straight-into-the-pajamas kind of gal.  I just like to be comfy, what can I say?  Tonight, however, I just wanted to get started with cooking dinner.  I have been wanting to try this recipe for a long time ... especially with my new love of quinoa!  I adapted this recipe for Vegan Quinoa Tabbouleh from the Vegetarian.About.Com website.  All I can say is that this food is the stuff of Gods!  My quinoa turned out perfectly this time.  I hadn't even realized it wasn't fully cooked the last time I made it.  Whoops!  This time though ... WOW.  I can see why people become addicted to this stuff!  You are definitely going to want to make this recipe.  It is sure to become a staple in my house from now on.

Vegan Quinoa Tabbouleh 


Ingredients:

• 2 cups dry quinoa
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 4 medium tomatoes, diced
• 2 cucumbers, chopped
• 12 scallions, chopped
• 6 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press or finely minced
• 4 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
• 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 3/4 cup lemon juice (fresh is best!)
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt (or to taste, I used quite a bit)

Preparation Instructions:

1. Add vegetable broth and quinoa to a medium-large soup pot and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat to a slow simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes.
3. Keep covered, remove from heat, and allow to sit for an additional 5 minutes.
4. Remove lid after five minutes and fluff quinoa with a fork.
5. Combine tomatoes, cucumber, scallions, garlic, mint, and parsley in a large bowl.
6. Add cooked quinoa to the bowl.
7. Add olive oil and lemon juice to bowl and mix well to combine all of the ingredients.  
8. Add garlic salt to taste.
9. Chill for at least one hour, preferably over night, to allow flavors to intensify.
10. Serve and enjoy!!!

As promised on the Hell If I Gnaw Facebook page last night, I am also bringing you a fabulous recipe for Vegan Fudge that I adapted from the Cookie + Kate Website.  I made the fudge last night and definitely broke into it before the clock struck midnight!  Ohhhhhh it is soooooo good.  It is by far the best vegan dessert I have made so far.  Yum Yum Yummy!  

Easy Vegan Fudge:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup coconut butter (If you cannot find this at the store, you can make your own by blending 8 ounces of unsweetened coconut flakes in your VitaMix or food processor until smooth.  I made my own and it worked great)
• 1 tablespoon raw peanut butter
• 2 small ripe bananas, cut in half
• 1/4 cup raw cacao powder (or regular cocoa powder if that is all you have)
• 3 tablespoons agave nectar
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 pinch sea salt
• 1/4 cup dairy free chocolate chips

Preparation Instructions:

1. Make coconut butter first if you did not buy it pre-made at he store.  
2. Combine all ingredients except for the chocolate chips in VitaMix or food processor and blend until smooth.
3. Pour the mixture into an 8x8 dish (or smaller if you want taller fudge).
4. Use a spatula to spread it evenly in the dish.
5. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and slightly push them into the fudge. 
6. Place fudge in the freezer and allow to set for several hours.  The fudge must remain very cold in order to keep its shape, so you should store it in the freezer.  I cut mine into pieces, placed the pieces between parchment paper, and then put them in a freezer bag to store in the freezer.
7. Serve and watch smiles appear.  :)

Another day of vegan yumminess!  I am getting pretty good at this cooking stuff if I do say so myself.  For those of you reading who think you could not do this ... YOU CAN!  Less than 2 months ago, I could have messed up cooking a hot pocket.  Now, I am cooking and creating every night and it turns out to be delicious!  It is so worth it and I am absolutely loving the chance to eat this way.  Just pick a recipe and give it a shot.  You just might surprise yourself.  I keep shocking myself daily!!!  

Until next time, Gnawers, take good care of you!!!