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Mini Chocolate Tahini Pies

September 4, 2018

Mini Chocolate Tahini Pies
(AKA Unwinding Pie)

My grandmother had 7 children. 7 kids in the span of 12 years. I have one and can’t figure out how to leave the house some days. We like to ask my mom how our grandmother coped and according to her, after all the kids were asleep she would eat a mini Table Talk Pie. I like to picture her sitting at her kitchen table, putting her feet up on the chair next to her, taking a deep breath, and going in with the fork. No grubby little hands intervening, no sharing bites off the same fork, just her and her pie.

I’m a cliche. I like to unwind at the end of the day with a glass of wine, but I don’t like to do it every day. The ritual doesn’t feel as luxurious when it’s an everyday activity. I do like to have a treat at the end of every day. Sometimes it’s a glass of wine, kombucha, bad TV, or zoning out on Instagram and wondering how I got to an oddly specific page on skin. No, just me? Nevermind then… Other days it’s a pot of chocolate.

Enter these little pies.

I really like tahini. I put it on stirfry, sweet potatoes, roasted veggies, tofu. Why not put it on chocolate?? These pies are on the simpler side – even my sister could bake these. And I bet you have most of the ingredients on hand. If tahini is not your thing, try swapping in almond butter (another heavy hitter in this house) or peanut butter.

Mini Vegan Chocolate Tahini Pies
Serves 4

Crust
cup of all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons of confectioners’ sugar
¼ teaspoon of kosher salt
¼ cup of Earth Balance, melted

Filling
1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate
cup of tahini
Pinch of kosher salt
½ cup of canned coconut milk
2 tablespoons of maple syrup
Maldon Sea Salt Flakes (garnish)

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°
  2. In a medium mixing bowl combine the flour, cocoa powder, confectioners’ sugar, and kosher salt. Slowly add the melted Earth Balance while mixing until the dough becomes crumbly. Pack evenly into 4 3-inch oven safe ramekins. Bake for 15 minutes and set aside to cool.
  3. Combine the semi-sweet chocolate, tahini, and kosher salt in a medium mixing bowl.
  4. In a small saucepan, combine the coconut milk and maple syrup on medium-low heat. Do not boil. Pour on top of the chocolate and tahini mixture, stirring with a silicone spatula until the chocolate is fully incorporated and melted. Pour onto cooled chocolate crusts. Sprinkle on the Maldon. Cool before serving.

Question:

What do you do to unwind at the end of the day?

Dinner Gluten Free Recipes Vegan Vegetarian

Vegan Poke Bowl

October 3, 2017

Vegan Poke Bowl
(AKA A Very Inauthentic Poke Bowl, but Delicious)

Hello? Remember me? I took a long hiatus after not feeling very well for many weeks. Even Instagram was checking in on me, reminding me to post or even just check my account. I could have written about what I was cooking, but my meals often looked like this…

or this…

or this…

Or basically just a tub of Earth Balance.

What makes me the most disappointed about not being able to eat my normal diet is missing out on seasonal foods. I would say it’s really one of the only ways I “live in the moment.” I try to really enjoy the seasonal fruits and veggies, and maybe hold onto them a little longer than the season recommends. So is that the opposite of living in the moment? I don’t know and don’t necessarily care, but I’m just happy that I can still occasionally find a good watermelon these days.

Notes:

  • Sushi Rice – Traditional sushi rice calls for rice vinegar and sugar. I didn’t have any on hand, but I added a touch of apple cider vinegar to see what flavors it brought out. Since this bowl has so many flavors happening, I don’t think the vinegar and sugar would be missed if omitted. This site was helpful.
  • I always forget about pickling shallots – they’re so good! I reduced this recipe by half and used a shallot instead of an onion.
  • Baked tofu – I did a repeat from my Ramen Bowl.
  • Sauce – the sauce doesn’t have to follow the recipe below exactly. It’s one of those – add a little of this and that to your liking. This is just a basic version.

Vegan Poke Bowl
(Serves 2)

Ingredients:
1 cup of sushi rice (see notes)
2 cups of watermelon, medium dice
1 small carrot, cut into matchsticks
4 inches of English cucumber, sliced very thinly
½ cup of shelled edamame, cooked according to package
½ an avocado, sliced thinly
½ teaspoon of sesame seeds
Quick pickled shallots (see notes)
Baked tofu (see notes)

Sauce:
1 tablespoon of tamari or soy sauce
1 tablespoon of tahini or your preference of nut butter
2 teaspoons of toasted sesame oil
1-2 teaspoons of sriracha

Directions:

  1. Prepare the tofu according to this recipe.
  2. Make your sushi rice: Rinse the sushi in a mesh colander. Place in a small pot with 1 cup of water and cover with lid. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer for about 15 minutes. Turn off heat and let sit for 10 minutes.
  3. Prepare all of your ingredients that you’d like to put in your poke bowl.
  4. Make the sauce: In a small bowl or mug, combine all of the sauce ingredients and whisk with a fork.
  5. Make the bowl: Split the rice between two bowls and top with your prepared toppings and sauce.

Question:
What are your comfort foods?