Vegetable Stir-fry

Vegetable Stir-fry

I love stir-fry! It’s such an easy dinner to make, you can use whatever veggies you have on hand, add any legume, some cooked rice and any spices that you like. Serve with a salad and you have a delicious, filling, healthy, plant-based, whole foods dinner that will satisfy all in the family.

DSC_0002_watermark broc cherry tom brussel bean rice sesame oil brags

Ingredients:
Makes 4 servings (one for me and 3 for my hubby ;-) )

  • 1/2 cup brown rice (makes 2 cups cooked – follow directions on package)
  • 1/4 cup water for ‘frying’ veggies
  • 1 head broccoli (including stem), chopped
  • 1 box cherry tomatoes
  • 10 brussels sprouts, quartered
  • 1 can (398 ml) black beans, rinsed well
  • 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 2 tsp Braggs All Purpose Liquid Soy Seasoning

Follow direction for rice to make 2 cups cooked rice. In large fry pan add water and heat on high until near boiling.  Add broccoli, cherry tomatoes, brussels sprouts and stir until veggies are a bright colour.  Add black beans, sesame oil and braggs. Stir well together.  Heat through and serve with a nice green salad.

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Picante Kale Salad

Picante Kale Salad

Here’s the yummy Kale Salad we are having for lunch on the patio today. I’m enjoying it on it’s own, while hubby will have it with a few leftover pizza slices!!  I love the spicy bite of this kale salad and the creaminess of the avocado and lemon, and how it coats the kale so nicely. Yum!! Well, I’m off to enjoy this summer day!! Bon appetite!

DSC_0003_watermark kale avo before mush broc

Ingredients:
Makes 4 small or 2 large portions

  • 1 bunch kale, stem removed and in bite size pieces
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 1 hot red pepper, chopped finely (you can add more if you really like spicy!)
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 4 large mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 head broccoli, cut in bite size pieces

Add kale pieces to large bowl.  Add avocado, lemon and hot peppers.  Using your hands massage the kale mixture until well coated with the avocado. The massage also helps breakdown the kale as it can be a little tough. Add mushrooms & broccoli, toss and serve.

Cat’s TIP:  Make a double batch of this salad and split it in two.  1st batch as is above, and for the 2nd batch add 2 chopped Mangoes, tossed & served!! The sweet of the Mango was a perfect match for the spicy kale!  And now you have two salads to take you through the next 2 days as side at dinner and for lunch! Easy Peasy! ;-)

DSC_0001_watermark kale avo mush broc

DSC_0012_watermark leftover pizza

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Raspberry Mango Smoothie

Raspberry Mango Smoothie

I love this combination.  The tartness of raspberries with the sweet and creaminess of mango makes this smoothie a definite keeper!

DSC_0001_watermark mango rasp spin

Ingredients:
Makes 1.5 litres (3 x 500ml servings)

  • 3 cups water
  • 1 mango, chopped
  • 2 cups raspberries
  • 3-4 big handfuls spinach

Add all ingredients to the blender in the order listed. Blend on low speed and gradually increase speed. Blend on high until smooth and frothy. To learn more about how I create smoothies visit My Smoothie Approach and if you are looking for a blender visit my post on Choosing a Blender for some ideas that will fit any budget. Enjoy!!

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Chilli Stew

Chilli Stew

It’s been a little wet and cool these last few days (yup, it is June so not so normal for us!) so we wanted something a little stew-like, something that would warm your insides – and with that and a scan of the fridge this Chilli Stew was created!  Inspired by an earlier recipe for Raw Vegan Chilli, but this time a cooked version.  And if I do say so myself, it’s very yummy, heart warming and has a great kick to it and it hit the spot oh-so-perfectly!!

Ingredients:
8-10 servings

  • 3 large tomatoes, chopped in large chunks
  • 2 avocados
  • 1 cup sun dried tomatoes
  • 2 inches fresh ginger, chopped
  • 2 tbsp chilli powder
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 medium onions, chopped
  • 2 carrots, sliced
  • 1-2 bell red and/or green peppers, chopped
  • 6 stalks celery, chopped
  • 6 green onions, slices

Add chopped tomatoes, avocado, sun dried tomatoes, ginger, chilli powder, cumin and cayenne pepper to food processor.  Pulse until well mixed but still a little chunky.  Place mixture in large bowl.  Add cherry tomatoes to food processor and pulse only a few times until chopped consistency.  Add cherry tomatoes to tomato/avocado mixture and stir well.

In large pot add 2 tbsp olive oil and heat for a few minutes.  Add onions, carrots, pepper, celery and green onions.  Stir well and heat until vegetables are softened.

Add tomato/avocado mixture to vegetable mixture in pot. Heat and stir until hot. Serve and Enjoy!!

DSC_0012_watermark chili veg before

DSC_0001_watermark veg chilli stew bowl

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Bruschetta

Bruschetta

I love LOVE bruschetta as a treat every now and again. I say treat because there is a fair amount of olive oil, although you can make it with less oil but I must admit I love it and find it hard to have the “less oil” version – but that’s just me ;-)

DSC_0005_watermark bruchette tom before

Ingredients:
Makes 12 slices

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, cut in 1/8th (yes it takes about 5 minutes to cut, but it’s worth it!)
  • 1/4 cup basil (or if you don’t have basil like me today, then cilantro is a great substitute)
  • fresh ground pepper
  • 1/2 loaf french bread (you can use the remaining 1/2 loaf with the Plant-Based Chilli!)
  • 3 tbsp olive oil (to brush on bread)

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees and ensure oven rack is on the top shelf.

Add minced garlic, olive oil and vinegar to a bowl, mix well together and let marinade for minimum 10 minutes. While garlic mixture marinades, cut cherry tomatoes in 1/8th. Place cherry tomatoes in colander, rinse and drain seeds. Add tomatoes and cilantro to garlic mixture and stir well and continue to marinade.

Cut bread in 1/2 ” slices. Brush olive oil on one side of bread using pasty brush and place oil side down on baking sheet. Place in oven for 5-6 minutes until bread is golden brown.

Place bread on serving plate and top with tomato mixture.  Serve right away (if permitted to sit too long the bread will become soggy).

DSC_0022_watermark bruchette bread before

DSC_0003_watermark brushette after

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Ruby Picante Smoothie

Ruby Picante Smoothie

A wonderful ruby red smoothie that is filled with immune boosting nutrients.  Not only is it high in dietary fibre, but it’s also very high in potassium as well as vitamins A & C. A good source of iron and calcium as well as high in magnesium and vitamin B6. The hot pepper will warm your insides while the carrots contain loads of beta carotene, a powerful phytonutrient that boosts the immune system.

DSC_0009_watermark #2 ruby after

Ingredients:
1.5 litres (3 servings 500ml each)

  • 3 – 31/2 cups water
  • 3 carrots, chopped
  • 1 large beet, chopped
  • Beet greens from 1 large beet (approx. 2-3 cups)
  • 1 green apple, cored and chopped
  • 1 lemon, juices
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped

Add all ingredients to the blender in the order listed. Blend on low speed and gradually increase speed. Blend on high until smooth and frothy. To learn more about how I create smoothies visit My Smoothie Approach and if you are looking for a blender visit my post on Choosing a Blender for some ideas that will fit any budget. Enjoy!!

DSC_0008_watermark #2 ruby before

Nutrition - Ruby Picante Smoothie

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Easy Peasy Potato Salad

Easy Peasy Potato Salad

Ok, truth be known I have so many recipes I try that in my mind, are so easy peasy I often wonder if I should even bother to post them. But every time I do, I find you are all thirsty for the easies of recipes and they tend to be the most popular.  So here I go, sharing with you one of the easiest potato salads in the world ;-) my world that is! ♡♡

DSC_0001_watermark pot sal bowl

Ingredients:

  • 3 potatoes, chopped
  • 2 tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 cup brussel sprouts, cut in quarters
  • 1/4 – 1/2 cup hummus
  • fresh ground pepper

I did say it was easy peasy right?  Chop potatoes in bite size pieces and boil until cooked.  Rinse well.  While potatoes are cooking, add chop tomatoes & brussel sprouts to a bowl and toss well with hummus.  Add potatoes and toss gently.  Add fresh ground pepper (I love pepper so I love to add a lot).  Serve while still warm (my preference), or if you prefer chill first and then serve.

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Mango Orange Simplicity Smoothie

Mango Orange Simplicity Smoothie

I am totally addicted to mangoes! At this time of year when they are plentiful, I will enjoy mangoes every day (and some!! ;-) ). It’s not uncommon to see me standing over the sink enjoying the plush juiciness of a mango right from the peel/core! Oh my lord, I so love them!! Needless to say I have enjoyed many mangoes these past few weeks. When using mangoes in smoothies, I like to keep it simple as I love the flavour and texture that Mangoes give to any smoothie. This smoothie is a prime example, I love its simplicity with only a few ingredients, but very powerful and nutritious ingredients! This smoothie is very high in Vitamins A & C as well it is high in Vitamin B6, potassium and dietary fiber. Oh and I love the brilliant green colour of mango smoothies! My love affair with mangoes is never ending! As always, I hope you will enjoy as much as I do! ♡♡

DSC_0004_watermark mango orange sunflw sprout spin BEFORE

Ingredients:
Makes 1.5 litres (3 servings of 500ml each) ♡ although I drank the whole batch myself! Yup, I did! ;-)

  • 3 cups water
  • 1 mango
  • 1 orange
  • 1 big handful sunflower sprouts
  • 3 big handfuls spinach

Add all ingredients to the blender. Blend on low speed and gradually increase speed. Blend on high until smooth and frothy. To learn more about how I create smoothies visit My Smoothie Approach and if you are looking to purchase a blender visit my post on Choosing a Blender for some ideas that will fit any budget. Enjoy!!

DSC_0003_watermark mango orange sunflw sprout spin GLASS

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Kale Avocado & Strawberry Salad

Kale Avocado & Strawberry Salad

Kale “massaged” with avocado is delicious and I use this approach almost every time I have kale and yummy avocado on hand!  The avocado coats the kale as if there was nice thick dressing added to your salad, plus the “massage” helps to breakdown the kale leaf as it’s normally a little stringy/tough, so this softens the kale.  Add a wee bit of lemon and top with you favourite fruit and you have a delicious salad.  I especially love with strawberries, but I also love other combinations like oranges & pumpkin seed, pears & cashews! The possibilities are endless!

Ingredients:

  • 1 head kale, stems removed and cut in bit size pieces
  • 1 avocado
  • 1/2 lemon, juices
  • 1 cup strawberries, slices

Remove stems from kale and rip into bit size pieces. Add 1/2 avocado and lemon juice. Massage the kale until it’s well coated with avocado/lemon mixture. Slice remaining avocado and add together with sliced strawberries. Gently toss and serve. Can’t get much easier than that! ;-)  Enjoy!!

If you like this you may also like some of my other salads!!

DSC_0004_watermark kale avo stra with avo

DSC_0005_watermark kale avo stra with avo and stra

Vegetable Teff Fusilli

Vegetable Teff Fusilli

There’s no denying I love LOVE vegetables in any form, but especially in a stirfry style with pasta…. oh and not just any pasta, I love Maria’s Noodles gluten free pasta’s where the only ingredient is a legume and  in this case it’s Teff!!  Can’t get healthier than that!!

DSC_0002_watermark veg pasta ingredients

Ingredients:
6 servings

  • 1-2 tbsp olive oil
  • 8 mushrooms, sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup pickled onions
  • 2 cups brussel sprouts, cut in quarters
  • 2 large tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 large beet, chopped
  • 1 bag Maria’s Noodles Teff Fusilli
  • 1 jar (270g) Sugo all’Arrabbiata

Heat olive oil in large skillet.  Add mushrooms and garlic an cook for a few minutes, stirring often, until golden. Remove from heat. Add pickled onions, brussels sprouts, tomatoes and beets.

To prepare pasta, follow directions on the package. For Teff Fusilli, it only takes 5-8 minutes to cook.  Bring 4.5 litres of water to boil. Reduce heat to medium, add pasta and cook 5-8 minutes stirring frequently. Rinse with warm water.

Add pasta to vegetable mixture, add 1 jar Suga all’Arrabbiata (my fav!!), toss until well coated.  Heat through and serve.

DSC_0008_watermark stir fry before pasta DSC_0012_watermark finished pasta closeup

Cashew Chewy Balls

Cashew Chewy Balls

I don’t know about you but I have a pretty active sweet tooth!  The problem is, if I have regular vegan baked goods it somehow triggers me and I eat everything in sight (ya, I have a bit of a problem that way ;-) ) and then I feel awful afterwards, it lasts for a day or two where I feel grumpy, lethargic and overall yukky!! Does that happen to you?

What I have discovered is if I have a raw vegan treat, i.e. gluten free, refined sugar free, processed-food free (i.e. no gluten substitutes), then I am A-ok!! Yeah!!  And even if I do get myself into a place where I want to have more than I should (t’ya like that ever happens ;-) ), I don’t get the grumpy, lethargic and yukky feeling!  Gotta love that!!

So this has led me to creating several chewy recipes (i.e. Cocoa Chews, Cashew Cranberry Chews, etc.) as I love the oooey-goey texture of these types of treats.  Well, last night that sweet tooth returned so I whipped these up lickedy-split in less than 5 minutes.  Yup, another easy peasy Catherine special ;-) .

I hope you enjoy as much as I do (did! HA!).  Feel free to leave a comment to let me know what your favourite treats are!!

DSC_0020_watermark balls

Ingredients:
Makes about 30 small balls

  • 1-1.5 cup raw cashews
  • 14 medjool dates, pitted
  • 15 dried apricots (remember whey you buy dried fruit it should be brown and NOT orange (or whatever colour is the natural fruit colour), if they are orange that means sulphites have been added to preserve the colour!! Sulphites not good!!)
  • 2-3 tbsp agave

In Cuisinart add cashews, dates and apricots and pulse until mixed but still chunky and goey!  It’s important to adjust to your own taste so you may want to add more dates/apricots/cashews. With machine running, add agave and use only enough to make ‘dough’ more sticky.  Form into tiny balls. Store in the fridge or freezer, although I prefer the freezer as it gives the balls a more ooey-gooey texture.  Also, they will keep longer in the freezer and you can easily grab one or two (maybe 3 ;-) ) for a quick daily snack. Enjoy!!

DSC_0021_watermark closeup balls2

Nutrition Cashew chews

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Black & Blue Berries Smoothie

Black & Blue Berries Smoothie

DSC_0023_watermark Blue black alm spin flaxYet another nutritious combination that is filled with antioxidants from the wonderfully fresh blue & black berries.  It’s also very high in Vitamin A & C, dietary fibre and manganese and high in magnesium and potassium and a good source of calcium and iron. All in all a power packed nutritional breakfast that is sure to hit the spot.

Ingredients:
1.5 litire (3 servings of 500ml each)

  • 3 cups water
  • 2 cups blueberries
  • 1 cup black berries
  • 1/4 cup raw almonds (soaked overnight)
  • 2 tbsp flaxseed, ground
  • 3 big handfuls spinach

Add all ingredients to the blender. Blend on low speed and gradually increase speed.  Blend on high until smooth and frothy. To learn more about how I create smoothies visit My Smoothie Approach and if you are looking for a blender visit my post on Choosing a Blender for some ideas that will fit any budget. Enjoy!!

Nutrition Black and blue smoothie

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