About.com Dairy Free Cooking

Vegan Banana Brownies Recipe

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:06:25 +0000

Chocolate goes with just about anything--from coffee to nuts to bread to fruit--and I can honestly say that I have enjoyed it for every meal of the day, in both savory and sweet dishes. Bananas, although delicious, however, are not as versatile to me; I like them in very specific ways--on top of oatmeal or cereal, with peanut butter on toast, in a nutty quick bread or, of course, with chocolate.

In the healthy-eating community, I come across dishes and recipes that use fat-reducers like bananas and applesauce exhaustively, and the outcome is never as good as I've felt that it could be; either the cookies, brownies or cakes are chewy and too light, or they just taste like a banana and not at all as they should. I don't, for instance, really want bananas in my chocolate chip cookies, because they no longer taste like chocolate chip cookies but like banana chocolate chip cookies!

I don't mind banana chocolate chip cookies--they are, in fact, delicious--but let's just call them what they are, shall we?

This is why when I made these Vegan Banana Brownies, I introduced them as such. They are banana-ey, so there could be no disguise. But, even lower in fat and vegan as they are, you'd never know; the banana gives the brownies a weight and a moisture that compliments the cocoa powder and dark chocolate chips, and because they are not fat-free but simply lower in fat, the result is not chewy and light, but balanced.

Vegan Banana Brownies Recipe originally appeared on About.com Dairy Free Cooking on Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 13:06:25.

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Spicy Tomato Soup Recipe

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:49:29 +0000

Now that the Thanksgiving festivities have begun to quiet down and all of the kitchen hubbub is over (at least for the next two weeks), I, for one, am ready for a break. Like many home cooks and health nuts, I'm ready for a week of simple, healthy meals to recover from a busy holiday spent making and eating rich foods. So, as is my post-celebration custom, I anticipate a week of several of my favorite things: soups, salads and healthy whole grains.

This Dairy-Free Spicy Tomato Soup Recipe is a favorite of mine during the colder weather, spiced with warming cayenne and red pepper. It's so easy to prepare, so I typically make a big batch to enjoy throughout the week. With a small salad and a slice of crusty bread, it's the perfect comforting and nutritious repast for those of use recovering from the holiday.

Spicy Tomato Soup Recipe originally appeared on About.com Dairy Free Cooking on Saturday, November 28th, 2009 at 21:49:29.

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For leftovers, for taste: Cranberry Pecan Bread Pudding Recipe

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:57:05 +0000

For many cooks, the day after Thanksgiving always inspires the question, what do I do with the leftovers?

In my case, however, I send most of the leftovers home with friends and family, except for one thing: the bread. Of all the yummy dishes the people can take away, they always seem to leave the leftover loaves behind. So for me, the day after Thanksgiving really just comes down to a matter of what do I do with the bread?

While in some years I have simply frozen the loaves for later and in others I have made bread crumbs with the dry loaves for gratins and casseroles, this year, I decided to continue the Thanksgiving celebrations with this Vegan Cranberry Pecan Bread Pudding, which also allows me to use the apples, cranberries and pecans that didn't make it into the Thanksgiving preparations. Served with this easy, 5-minute Tofu Cinnamon Custard, it's a healthy, delicious and economical way to use up that bread!

For leftovers, for taste: Cranberry Pecan Bread Pudding Recipe originally appeared on About.com Dairy Free Cooking on Friday, November 27th, 2009 at 12:57:05.

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Happy Thanksgiving: Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:51:25 +0000

There's only one dish really that needs to be at everything Thanksgiving feast, and, to me, it's not the turkey. It's the pumpkin pie.

This Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe is also egg-free and--get this--prepared without tofu. While I myself use silken tofu in all sorts of purees and custard-like recipes, pumpkin pies prepared with tofu have always just seemed much too beany for my liking. If you're a dairy-freer or vegan who feels the same, try this recipe and let me know what you think!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! If you're still looking for other favorites, check out some of these Dairy-Free Thanksgiving Recipes for inspiration!

Happy Thanksgiving: Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie Recipe originally appeared on About.com Dairy Free Cooking on Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 17:51:25.

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Wordless Wednesday

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:44:44 +0000

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Wordless Wednesday originally appeared on About.com Dairy Free Cooking on Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 02:44:44.

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Cranberry Apple Chutney Recipe

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:52:37 +0000

Sometimes the best things to make when you're cooking for alternative diets are the things that are naturally alternative.

Don't get me wrong: I love dairy-free cheesecakes, dairy-free cheeses, raw desserts, and nut-based spreads, as anyone whose followed my blog for a while can tell you. But when cooking for a mixed group of diets at a holiday like Thanksgiving, I often look at my table and realize that, beyond my vegan pumpkin pie and vegan breads, the spread is composed primarily of things that are naturally dairy-free, from roasted squash and vegetables to simple, memorable dishes like this Cranberry Apple Chutney. Prepared with cranberries, apples, celery, onion, ginger, spices and brown sugar, there's nothing more straight-forward and seasonal, and there's never any of it left.

Here are just a few more naturally delicious dishes that are perfect for Thanksgiving tables of varied palates and diets:

Carrots with Raisins

Coconut Macaroons

Soy Caramelized Roast Chestnuts

Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes

Cranberry Apple Chutney Recipe originally appeared on About.com Dairy Free Cooking on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 03:52:37.

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A Vegan Tribute to Gourmet Magazine: Vegan Dijon Caramel Chocolate Bars Recipe

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:09:19 +0000

Like so many in the food writing and foodie community, I was very sad to hear that Gourmet was ceasing publication. Even though most of the recipes in the magazine were not dairy-free, it has always been an inspiration to me. So, as a tribute to the years of excellent food writing and inspirational recipes, I will be posting a few adaptations of some interesting recipes from Gourmet.

This weekend, I made a batch of these Vegan Dijon Caramel Chocolate Bars inspired by Gourmet's Mustard Caramel Crunchies with Chocolate Glaze, and they were phenomenal. In place of the butter and cream in the recipe, I used dairy-free soy margarine and full-fat coconut milk, and in place of the bittersweet chocolate, I used dairy-free dark chocolate chips. I also doubled the recipe to fit an 11" x 17" casserole dish to serve a large party, but, trust me--the entire tray of confections were gone within an hour. Prepared with a dijon mustard caramel, thin pretzel sticks (make sure the variety you purchase is dairy-free and vegan, of course), and dairy-free chocolate, these were fun and interesting. And, if you're like me, confections are always best when they have a savory side. Although they're not traditional Thanksgiving fare, I'm thinking that they will be a wonderful addition to the dessert table.

Stay tuned: there will be more delicious adaptations to come!

A Vegan Tribute to Gourmet Magazine: Vegan Dijon Caramel Chocolate Bars Recipe originally appeared on About.com Dairy Free Cooking on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 23:09:19.

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Healthy Apple Bread Recipe

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:11:20 +0000

One of my favorites from a recent exploration of dairy-free and vegan quick breads, this Healthy Apple Bread is a tribute to fall, prepared with wheat flour, oats, corn meal, spiced apples, maple and walnuts. Perfect for an afternoon Thanksgiving tea time or post-Thanksgiving brunch, this is something that everyone--kids, adults, meat-eaters, dairy-freers, and vegans--can enjoy.

Healthy Apple Bread Recipe originally appeared on About.com Dairy Free Cooking on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 18:11:20.

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Wordless Wednesday

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:05:41 +0000

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Photo &copy 2009 Ashley Skabar, licensed to About.com, Inc.

Wordless Wednesday originally appeared on About.com Dairy Free Cooking on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 03:05:41.

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Vegan Chocolate Ganache Tart Recipe

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:59:39 +0000

Pies and tarts are great for fall, and while most people love pies and tarts, I've a number of friends and family members that dislike any sort of fruit dessert. It's a shame really; I love fruits in desserts or as desserts. And, as far as tarts and pies: I love making them, serving them, and eating them. Where cake can have a more homey, down-to-earth air that's delightfully delicious on a bright summer's day, a tart has a finished elegance that's a celebrated indulgence on a dark autumn night.

So, as with many things, my answer is chocolate.

This Vegan Chocolate Ganache Tart is a truly special ending to a delicious meal, especially for a holiday like Thanksgiving. A cashew cookie crust is baked and then topped with a rich dark chocolate ganache prepared with coconut milk instead of heavy cream.

If you're one of those cooks that doesn't have a completely stocked kitchen of baking pans, don't worry--there are ways to get around the lack of a tart pan. If you do not have a 9" tart pan, feel free to use a 9" pie plate, or do what I did this weekend when I realized that I had loaned out a few of my tart pans to my sister the week before and double the recipe to fill a 9"x13" casserole dish. It doesn't matter how you cut it: it's good. Really good.

Vegan Chocolate Ganache Tart Recipe originally appeared on About.com Dairy Free Cooking on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 21:59:39.

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