Quinoa-Millet Salad with Ambercup Squash

I went on my weekly (weekendly, to be more accurate) Farmer's Market run today, and I'm so pleased! Among my finds: a huge bunch of kale in different varieties, a bag of fat, juicy carrots, and Roma tomatoes.

At one booth, I saw what I took to be the first pumpkins of the season. The lady who grows them told me that despite the look, they're not actually pumpkins, but a drier, more flavorful winter squash called "Ambercup".

A challenge, if I ever did see one! :D

So this dish is a mildly sweet, protein-rich grain salad. I only used a quarter of the squash, so I'll make a nice creamy soup with the leftovers.


Quinoa-Millet Salad with Ambercup Squash

1/2 cup each quinoa and millet, cooked (can be cooked together!)
2 cups cooked winter squash, chopped
2 kale leaves, chopped fine
1 large carrot, shredded finely
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3 Tbsp. honey or agave
1 1/2 Tb. olive oil
1 tbsp. lemon juice
splash of orange juice (maybe 2 Tbsp.)
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
salt to taste

In a food processor, grind sunflower seeds down to a coarse meal. In a large bowl, mix sunflower seeds, kale, and carrots, and toss lightly. Then, add the vinegar, honey, oil, and cinnamon.

Once your quinoa mix and squash are done, throw them into the bowl. Drizzle the lemon and orange over the top, toss, and season to taste. Serve warm! :)

Hippies Love Mac and Cheeze!

Macaroni and cheese is pretty much the epitome of comfort food. But what's a gluten-free vegan to do? We need comfort too!

I've found over the past few years that I'll still be drawn by the siren call of the soft pasta... the gooey unnaturally-orange cheese mixture... but I know that if I give in an chow down on it, I'll regret it right away. Bloat - bleh!

There is pre-packaged vegan mac and cheese out there, too, but they definitely leave something to be desired. I had to find a home-made alternative! When I started making the cashew cream, it occurred to me that I could thicken it with nutritional yeast, which gives a nice cheesy flavor to things. Starting from a base of rice pasta, and adding the cashew cheese, and some additional flavors - I found the perfect blend. I hope you, too, will find a little comfort here.


Hippies love Mac & Cheeze

20 sun-dried tomatoes, soaked in 2 cups water
1 1/2 cups raw cashews
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
1 tsp. coriander
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. turmeric
1 1/2 Tbsp. vinegar
1 Tbsp. Wheat-Free Tamari
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
sea salt, pepper, cayenne to taste

Roux:
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 Tbsp. rice flour (I actually used sprouted ground quinoa that I had on hand)
1 Tbsp. ground flax
3 Tbsp. olive oil (or more if needed)

To make a roux, brown onion and garlic with 1 Tbsp. oil over medium heat. Add flour and flax, with 2 Tbsp. oil, and sauté until golden, stirring constantly. Take off the heat. If it gets way too thick, feel free to add some boiling water.

In a high-powered blender, blend cashews and sun-dried tomatoes (with soak water) until creamy. Then you can add the rest of the ingredients, including the roux, and blend until it's all smooth and incorporated.

Pour over steaming rice pasta and serve! If you like, you can add some of your favorite veggies: peas, beets, corn, broccoli, etc. Get creative! :)

Ginger-Lime Tofu with Citrus Marmalade Glaze, March Joust Entry

Here's my entry for the Royal Foodie Joust!

Ginger-Lime Tofu with Citrus Marmalade Glaze, Coconut Quinoa with Pink Peppercorns, Orange Balsamic Chard and Radish Greens

I'm so pleased with this menu, because they compliment each other so well. The delicate flavour of the quinoa counterbalances the citrus kick of the tofu, and the greens had a smooth, almost creamy texture from the radish tops.

The tofu was wonderful in itself, with the texture very akin to pork, and even the color was spot on. I find that red wine and tofu cooked together in most forms makes for a good substitute for heavier meats in recipes. My fiance said that it reminded him very much of a gourmet version of orange beef he used to get at Chinese restaurants, and he gobbled up everything left in the pan, including the leftover glaze!

A wonderfully pink Valentine's meal, indeed. :)

---

Ginger-Lime Tofu with Citrus Marmalade Glaze

13 ounces of firm tofu
3 tbs. grated ginger
5 tbs. lime juice
2 tbs. red wine (merlot)
2 green onions, diced (just the dark green tops; reserve the whites for later)

Cut tofu into quarters, then slice each quarter lengthwise into three cutlets. Place tofu into a freezer-safe container, and add in red wine, ginger and lime juice, making sure to coat.
Place in the freezer overnight (this firms up the texture of the tofu, making it more meat-like.) Remove from the freezer and allow the mass to thaw.
Drain and spread tofu cutlets onto a cookie sheet, and place in the oven for 20 minutes at 400 degrees, then flip, and return to the oven for 20 more minutes. Both sides should be a nice golden brown.
Arrange the tofu in a baking dish. Pour on the marmalade glaze and top with diced green onion.
Bake at 400 degrees for another 10-15 minutes, or until the glaze has reduced slightly. (It will get very bubbly, the bubbles should start to rise just a bit.) Garnish with diced green onion tops and diced red bell pepper [not pictured - thought that up while we were eating!]

Citrus Marmalade Glaze

1/2 cup marmalade (lemon, grapefruit and orange, with black currant juice)
1/4 cup white wine (chardonnay)
large pinch of ground pink peppercorns
1 tsp. whole pink peppercorns
1 tsp. lime juice
1 tbs. rice wine vinegar
1 tsp. wheat-free tamari
pinch cayenne pepper, to taste

Simmer all ingredients in a small saucepan over VERY low heat (watch that it doesn't burn!) to till it reduces by about 1/4.


Coconut Quinoa Pilaf with Pink Peppercorns

2 cups sprouted quinoa
1 tsp. salt
3/4 cup coconut water
1 tsp. lime juice
squeeze of lemon
1 tsp. coconut oil
2 tsp. ground pink peppercorns

1/4 onion, thinly sliced and caramelized with 2 tsp coconut oil and splash of coconut water (reserve pan for sautéing the greens)

Heat coconut oil in a pot on med-high heat, and add quinoa, sautéing for about 5 minutes. Add coconut water, lemon, lime, pepper, and salt, and simmer on med-low for about ten minutes, until the liquid evaporates. Once the quinoa cools a bit, toss in the onions. Serve on a bed of watercress.


Orange-Balsamic Chard and Radish Greens

4 chard leaves, roughly chopped (stem sliced thin and reserved)
1 large bunch radish tops, destemmed and large leaves torn in half
Whites from diced green onion
Juice from half a navel orange
Splash balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. coconut oil
pinch salt

Warm 1 tsp. coconut oil in the pan you used to caramelize the onions, and add the green onions. Sauté for 2 minutes, until softened. Add chard, toss to wilt slightly, then add the radish greens, orange juice, salt and balsamic. Once wilted, plate with a sprinkling of ground peppercorns and a few raw chard stem pieces.



Enjoy! If you like this recipe, vote for me at the Joust on March 1st, Thanks!