Vegan Cookies

Vegan Cookies?


YES PLEASE.


I found a delicious cookie recipe and had no idea that you could substute out eggs and oil - hello newbie!I made a batch (around 20 cookies) and my husband and I devoured them in 2.5 days!
We both loved them.


Here is the cookie journey!


Step ONE - Find your kitchen Buddy.   Check

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W. the kitchen guru (aka floor cleaner)

Step TWO - Get your ingredients list.    Check

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/4 cup sugar
1 cup vegan margarine
1 teaspoon + of vanilla
1/2 cup applesauce
pinch of cinnamon
12 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips (buy organic if possible)

Cook @ 375 for 10-12 minutes



Step THREE - combine like so....

Pre heat the oven to 375 degrees. Combine your 2 cups of flour, salt, and baking soda in a bowl and set it aside.


In a new bowl add the following

not mixed yet

sugar, vegan margarine, and vanilla - mix together.

Mixed

add applesauce & Cinnamon & mix

Slowly add in the dry content, while mixing. Fold in your chocolate chips, dollop onto cookie sheet and bake in oven @ 375 degrees for 10 - 14 minutes depending on your preference.

uncooked in the oven...

After 10-12 minutes time to take them out and let sit on a cooling rack...and ENJOY

yum.

Enjoy these delicious cookies, I know we did, we ate them in 2.5 days! Makes about 20 cookies.
Reciepe found at vegweb (but their site seems to be hacked at the moment??)

~Finding Feathers~~

SUPER FOODS

First of all....WHY did I not know about this before now????
As I push myself to eat a more healthy animal free diet, I am perturbed that I did not know about all the amazing super healthy food options that taste great!

I grew up eating the Canadian staples in a bland food family (sorry mom).
The Regulars:
- Pasta night (spaghetti with ground beef)
- Meat loaf (which I never liked)
- Pot roast (usually overcooked), with potatoes, vegetables and salad
- Chicken & Fish (which I rarely ate)


FYI, my Mother and Father have come leaps and bounds from this meal plan 20 years ago, and their meals are much more delicious. (They are taking notes from my foodie Brother and Sister in law).


So on my health quest I have found some of the most amazing foods that do the most amazing transformations to my body! Here is my new list of great tasting healthy foods:

1. Kale.

Kale *source

Some of you may have seen my Green Shake recipe here .
    But Kale is one of the leafy plants that I am still fairly new to. You can read information about this super green plant, and its health benefits just about anywhere online and in food magazines. The Longo's nutritional magazine it featured Kale as one of its Nutritional Punch vegetables for fighting disease. I found further evidence that this food is super rich in the nutritional department on the site Worlds Healthiest Foods , here it states "...This research focus makes perfect sense. Kale's nutrient richness stands out in three particular areas: (1) antioxidant nutrients, (2) anti-inflammatory nutrients, and (3) anti-cancer nutrients in the form of glucosinolates." Try my shake recipe, add it to your stir fry, or try making Kale Chips! Yum.


2. Quinoa.

Cooked *photo by F.F.

Raw *Photo by F.F

Pronounced Keen-Wah.
    I cooked it for the first time today, and yes it can be bland, however add it to a stir fry or put a favorite sauce on it and its delicious!



Healthy power house facts:
- A complete protein
- Gluten-free
- Contains all eight essential amino acids
- Rich in vitamins E, B2 and B6, folic acid, biotin, calcium, potassium, iron, copper, magnesium, manganese and chloride
- Free of cholesterol and trans fat
- Contains high levels of natural antioxidants, mainly
vitamin E
This list was taken from the site Canada.com Story by Laura Brehaut and has a ton of great information on this neat little grain-fruit. (See my recipe soon to follow in the next few days).

3. Nutritional Yeast.

Nutritional Yeast *photo by F.F.

It actually tastes amazing sprinkled on popcorn!
"It is a great source of 18 amino acids, protein, folic acid, biotin and other vitamins. It is also rich in 15 minerals including iron, magnesium, phorphorus, zinc, and chromium, and selenium." Justgoodenergy.com

I have started to add it to many dishes and the more I read about this great yeast (not to be confused with cooking yeast) the more ways I am able to use it. Add it to your favorite dishes to reap the benefits! I buy mine from the Bulk Food Store, however I have read that it should be kept out of light.

I hope this short list of super foods has given you some ideas on how to incorporate healthy eating choices into your home. I will be posting some new recipes soon.

Stay tuned!

~~ Finding Feathers~~

Food - Homemade Soup

Its not too late to want that warm bowl of soup, even though the weather has turned super warm in the GTA....in March?!
Going for that health kick of mine that I have talked about is becoming enjoyable the more I cook.
  


My mother and father are part of a Soup Group. At first I thought that this was a strange group of people, getting together for soup? But then I started to see the plus side....leftovers! Yum!

So I thought I would try my own version of the homemade soup, sans group. (Unless you count Wendel - my kitchen helper....)

Wendel - Super Pug.  (Not his best Shot)

I wanted to make a vegetarian soup, as I am still eliminating animal products (slowly) from my diet. So I opted for a  Simple Squash Apple Soup.

(I cut up the squash before getting a picture....Sorry)
Now most recipes call for a Granny Smith Apple, well I used what I had, two small royal gala apples that were on the turn.
Here is my recipe for the soup.

Simple Squash Apple Soup

Prep Time: 15 Minutes (depending on your skills to peel and chop...I am apparently slow)
Cook Time: 35 Minutes

Ingredients:

1 medium Yellow Onion, chopped
1 - 3 ribs of Celery, chopped
1-2 Carrots, peeled & chopped
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 Butternut Squash, peeled, seeds & hair removed, and chopped into small cubes
1-2 Apples (suggested Granny Smith, but I used Royal Gala)
*note the ratio is 3:1 for squash to apple
3 Cups of vegetable broth
1 Cup water
*Spices to taste: Cinnamon, nutmeg, Cayenne, salt, pepper
(I only added a pinch of cinnamon, the broth carries enough salt so no need to add more)

Steps to Soup:
In a 3 inch deep x 9-10 inch circumference frying pan, (anything that can hold all the ingredients and liquid without spilling over at a boil) add the butter & onion, carrot, and celery. Saute on low-med heat, without browning for 5 minutes.
This is a good time to start peeling your squash and apples and chop them up. I used a peeler as I found it much easier/safer than a knife for my inexperience with peeling "difficult" fruits and vegetables.
Next, add the chopped up Squash, apple, broth and water to the pan with the other ingredients.
Bring to a boil, then turn down to simmer for 30 minutes.

Add spices, or salt if using and put into blender and Puree.  This machine came with our house purchase... an oldie but a goodie. Works great!

Let cool in containers, taste test......

Settle down for a whole bowl....

Enjoy!

~~  Finding Feathers ~~

Green Shakes?

Morning or Snack Time  - This Shake Works!                                                                                            

As I have said (many times before), I wanted to start eating healthy....again.

So after filling myself full of nutritional information, checking out some of my favoriate food blogs, and scaring my own pants off with a few good Documentaries - I started my quest!

 So I have been having a shake in the morning, its nutritional, but I knew I could up the ante on it.
So here is my GREEN shake reciepe. (I am sure there are more or similar ones out there, but this is what I could stomach and actually ENJOY)

Green Shake #1

Ingredients:

• Handful of Kale
• One whole Banana
• Vanilla Yogurt - three heaping tablespoons *or until desired thickness
• Top off with Fruit / Orange Juice *I used a orange, strawberry, banana juice.
• ice cubes (put in after mixing)

Green Shake #1

Put your handful of Kale and a bit of water into the Magic Bullet. Kale is a bitter leafey lettuce, it is super healthy but I find it difficult to eat due to the bitter taste, however just adjust your "handful size" according to your taste and you should be fine. Pulse the Kale a few times to break up. Add juice, and yogurt. Mix (I love my magic bullet for this - perfect portions every time.). I would not suggest adding any fiber into this shake. I usually add some Fibre Sure product into my shakes but it really is not necessary here. Drop in a few ice cubes just before drinking. Drink immediatly after making.

I want your feedback on this one....honest, I usually only like really sweet drinks and I really like this one! Write your feedback and tell me your thoughts!

~~ Finding Feathers ~~