Christmas Feast 2023

 

King Crab Legs

• 3.25 lbs. king crab legs
• plant based butter (or regular butter), for serving

Preheat oven to 350F.

Fill about 1/4 inch of water in a 9x13 baking dish. Lay the crab legs in the water. Cover with foil.  Pop it into the oven and cook for about 15 minutes, until crab is warmed through.

Broccoli Orzo

• 1/2 lb. dry chickpea orzo pasta
• 4 cups fresh broccoli florets, rinsed and trimmed
• 1 cup chopped red onion
• 1 tbsp. minced garlic
• 1/2 cup grated vegan parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp. plant based butter
• 1/2 tbsp. avocado oil
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Cook orzo according to package instructions.  Drain and set aside.

While the orzo is cooking, steam broccoli until just tender.  Be careful not to over-steam, making it mushy.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat.  Add butter and oil, melting the butter.  Add onions, cooking until tender.  Stir in minced garlic and cook one minute.  

Toss the cooked broccoli and orzo into the skillet and season with crushed red pepper, salt & pepper.  Sprinkle the parmesan over the top and stir to combine.

Green Beans Almondine

• 2 tbsp. plant based butter, divided
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds
• 1 tbsp. avocado oil
• 12 oz. fresh green beans, rinsed and trimmed
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. minced garlic

Melt 1 tbsp. butter in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the sliced almonds, stirring frequently, until toasted, about 4 minutes.  Remove from skillet and set aside.

Add 1 tbsp. avocado oil to the same skillet.  Add the green beans, water, salt and lemon juice and toss to combine.  

Place the lid on the skillet and cook for 9 minutes, stirring occasionally, until green beans are tenter. 

Remove lid and continue cooking until the water is evaporated.  Stir in remaining tbsp. of butter and minced garlic.  Saute for 1-2 minutes, until garlic is fragrant. Stir in the toasted almonds and serve.

Christmas Brussel Sprouts

• 1.5 lbs. fresh brussel sprouts, rinsed and trimmed and cut in half lengthwise
• 8 slices Lite Life plant based bacon, cooked, cooled, and chopped
• 2 tsp. avocado oil 
• 3 tsp. plant based butter, divided
• 1 shallot, minced
• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Heat the oil and 1 tsp. butter in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the shallot and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the brussel sprouts and continue to cook, stirring frequently, 3 minutes.

Add the broth, salt & pepper to the pan and stir to combine.  

Cover and cook until brussel sprouts are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in remaining 2 tsp. butter and the cooked bacon.  Continue to cook until butter is melted and bacon is warmed.

Merry Christmas!!

Low Carb, Plant Based Taco Stuffed Peppers

•  1 - 12 oz. package Impossible LITE
• 2 links spicy Impossible sausage, casings removed
• 6 bell peppers
• 1 cup salsa
• 2 tsp. paprika
• 2 tsp. chili powder
• 2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. coriander
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 1 - 10 oz. package frozed riced cauliflower, cooked according to package directions
• 2 tbsp. chopped green chiles
• 1 - 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
• 2 tbsp. taco seasoning 
• 1 cup vegan shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 375 F.  

Spray a 9x13 baking dish with avocado oil spray and pour the salsa into the dish, spreading it out in an even layer.

Slice the tops off the bell peppers.  Remove the seeds and membranes from inside and line them up in the baking dish.  

Chop the tops of the bell peppers and set aside.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and generously spray with avocado oil spray.  Add the Impossible beef and sausage to the pan, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes.  Season with the paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, coriander, oregano and cayenne.  Stir to mix well.  Move seasoned "meat" to a plate.

Re-spray the same skillet with avocado spray.  Add the cooked riced cauliflower, chopped red onion, chopped bell pepper tops, green chiles and diced tomatoes to the pan.  Season with taco seasoning and cook, stirring frequently, until onion and bell peppers are softened, about 5 minutes.  Stir the seasoned "meat" into the skillet with the veggies and mix well to combine.  

Fill each pepper with this mixture, pressing down to tightly fill.  Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. 

Pull the dish out of the oven, remove the foil, sprinkle the vegan cheese over the tops and pop it back into the oven for 10 minutes. 

Enjoy!  

Plant Based Sloppy Joe Stuffed Peppers

• 1 - 12 oz. package Impossible Beef LITE
• 1 link spicy Impossible sausage, casing removed
• Avocado oil spray
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 tbsp. tomato paste
• 1 tbsp. chopped garlic
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp. spicy brown mustard
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1 tbsp. vegan Worcestershire
• 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• 4 green bell peppers, tops removed, seeded and sliced in half lengthwise
• 2/3 cup reduced sodium vegetable broth
• 1 cup vegan shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 400F.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Generously spray with avocado oil spray. Add chopped onion and bell pepper and cook until starting to soften, about 7 minutes.   

Stir in tomato paste and garlic and stir to combine, cooking until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. 

Add impossible beef and sausage to the pan, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.  Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and cook until meet is no longer pink, about 5 minutes.  

Reduce heat to low and stir in tomato sauce, mustard, ketchup, Worcestershire, vinegar, brown sugar and crushed red pepper.   Let simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.

Spray a 9x13 glass baking dish with avocado oil spray and pour the broth into dish.  Add the 8 bell pepper halves. 

 

Divide the mixture evenly across the 8 peppers. Cover the dish with foil and pop into the oven for 45 minutes.  Uncover the dish and turn oven to broil.  Top with the vegan cheese and allow to broil until cheese is bubbly and starting to brown, about 3 minutes.

ENJOY!!!

Easy & Delish Stuffed Tex Mex Pepper Casserole

 

• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 2 1/2 cups reduced sodium vegetable broth
• 1 - 14.5 oz. can Italian style petite diced tomatoes
• 2 tsp. cumin
• 1 tbsp. Italian seasoning
• 1 tbsp. chili powder
• 1 small red onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 orange bell pepper, chopped
• 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
• 1 1/4 cups dry lentils
• 1 cup dry brown rice
• 1 - 14.5 oz. can corn, rinsed and drained
• 2 tbsp. chopped green chiles
• 2 tbsp. chopped garlic
• 1 cup shredded non-dairy vegan cheese (or use regular dairy cheese)

Preheat oven to 400F.  Spray a 9x13" glass baking dish with avocado oil spray.

In a small sauce pan, mix the tomato sauce, broth, diced tomatoes, cumin, Italian seasoning and chili powder.  Cover and bring to a boil.

Meanwhile, add the onion, bell peppers, lentils, rice, corn, green chiles and garlic to the baking dish mix everything together. 

Pour the boiling seasoned broth and tomatoes over the top.  Cover the dish with foil and pop into the oven for one hour.  Check the rice and lentils and re-cover and put back into the oven, if not fully cooked, for 20 more minutes.

Remove dish from the oven, uncover and stir well.  

Turn the oven on broil.  Sprinkle cheese over the top and pop it back into the oven for 5-7 minutes until cheese is melted - be sure to keep an eye on it under the broiler!

Serve with toppings such as a dollop of vegan sour cream and fresh avocado chunks. Yields 6-8 servings.

YUM!

Vegan "Egg" Salad

 

• 1 - 16 oz. block extra firm tofu, drained and pressed 
• 6 tbsp. vegan mayo
• 2 tbsp. nutritional yeast
• 1 tsp. spicy brown mustard
• 1 tsp. dijon mustard
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 3/4 tsp. kala namak (black salt)
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric
• freshly ground black pepper

Chop the tofu into very tiny cubes.  

In a bowl, combine the mayo, nutritional yeast, mustards, onions, salt, turmeric and pepper.  Use a whisk to mix it well.  Add the tofu to the bowl and mix well.  Move to the fridge until ready to enjoy.

SO delish!  Make sandwiches!  Scoop onto tomato slices! Eat it all by itself! Possibilities are endless!

Vegan Veggie Cabbage & Sausage Soup

 

• 2 links Impossible spicy sausage, casings removed & crumbled
• 1 white onion, chopped
• 1 cup baby carrots, chopped
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 3 colorful bell peppers, seeded and chopped
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• 2 - 14 oz. bags shredded cabbage mix
• 2 - 14 oz. cans Italian style diced tomatoes
• 1 - 7 oz. can mild diced green chiles
• 1 tbsp. minced garlic
• 2 tbsp. minced ginger 
• 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1 tsp. dried parsley
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 8 cups vegetable broth
• avocado oil spray
• nutritional yeast for serving, optional

Generously spray a large pot with avocado oil spray.  Crumble the sausage links into the pot and cook until browned, about 2 minutes.  Add the onion, carrots, celery, bell peppers, and zucchini to the pot, cooking until starting to soften, about 10 minutes.  Add the cabbage, tomatoes, green chiles, garlic, ginger, vinegar, and all of the seasonings and stir to mix well.  

Pour the broth over the top.  Bring the soup to a bowl and then reduce to a simmer.  Allow to simmer for 60 minutes. 

Enjoy with a sprinkling of nutritional yeast.  Delish!

Crock Pot Vegetable, Lentil, Split Pea, Barley Soup

• 1 red onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 zucchini, chopped
• 1 cup trimmed & chopped green beans
• 1 cup chopped baby carrots
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 - 14 oz. can petite diced tomatoes
• 1 tbsp. chopped garlic
• 1/2 cup dry lentils
• 1/2 cup dry split peas
• 1/2 cup dry pearled barley
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tbsp. dried parsley
• 1 tsp. dried thyme
• 1 tsp. ground coriander
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 8 cups reduced sodium vegetable broth

Put everything into the crockpot.  Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.  Stir every few hours if you are around.

Serve with vegan parmesan cheese! Enjoy!  

Easy One Pot Quinoa Casserole

• 2 cups dry quinoa
• 4 cups reduced sodium vegetable broth
• 2 cups chopped bell peppers
• 1 - 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
• 1 cup chopped red onion
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. smoked paprika
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp. salt

Spray a large pot with avocado oil spray.  Add the bell peppers, tomato, jalapeno and onion to the pot and cook until starting to soften, about 5 minutes.

Add the chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, crushed pepper and salt to the veggies and stir to mix well.

Add the quinoa, broth, beans, corn and salsa to the pot. Stir, cover the pot and bring to a boil.

Once boiling, turn down the heat and allow to simmer, covered, for 30-ish minutes, or until liquid is absorbed and quinoa is fluffed. Start checking after 15 minutes.

Serve topped with vegan sour cream, vegan cheese and diced avocado.

Yields 8 servings.  Enjoy!!

Savory Breakfast Tofu Scramble

 

• 1 - 14 oz. block firm tofu
• 1 medium zucchini, chopped
• 1 medium bell pepper, chopped
• 6-7 green onions, white & light green parts only, chopped
• 2 tbsp. diced green chiles
• 1/4 tsp. ground turmeric
• 1/4 tsp. paprika
• 1/2 tsp. crushed red chili flakes
• 1/2 tsp. kala namak (aka Indian black salt)
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. onion powder
• 2 tbsp. nutritional yeast

Chop the veggies!  Combine the turmeric, paprika, chili flakes, black salt, garlic & onion powder in a small bowl. 

Use your hands to squeeze the water out of the tofu, crumbling it into a bowl.

Saute the zucchini, bell pepper, green onions and diced green chiles, until softened.  

Stir in the tofu, seasonings and nutritional yeast.

Saute until cooked through, stirring occasionally.  

Divide into 4 servings and enjoy!