Tofu Bacon

Recipe adapted from:

http://www.v-lish.com/recipe/smoky-tofu-bacon/

1 package extra firm tofu, pressed and drained

4 tbsp maple syrup

4 tbsp nutritional yeast

4 tbsp Tamari gluten-free soy sauce

3-4 dashes liquid smoke (a little goes a long way!)

2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp smoked paprika

4-6 tbsp water

Drain tofu and press for at least 30 minutes. Cut into thin rectangular strips.

Mix all other ingredients in a flat-bottomed container, and place the tofu strips in the marinade. Make sure all strips are coated and marinade for at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place tofu on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Use a basting brush to brush a thin layer of marinade over the top of the tofu.

Bake for 10 minutes, then flip, and use the basting brush to brush marinade over the top of the tofu again.

Continue to bake, flipping every 10 minutes or so (but don't add more marinade after the first two flips). They will likely need at least 30 minutes to become firm and chewy, but it will depend on how much moisture is in the tofu and how thinly it was cut. Thinner pieces of tofu may start to char on the edges.

"Skinny" Spaghetti Squash Alfredo with Tomato and Vegetarian Chicken

Recipe adapted from:  http://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2013/03/skinny-spaghetti-squash-alfredo.html

Ingredients:
1 medium-large spaghetti squash
3 cloves garlic
1 Tbsp butter (I used Earth Balance margarine)
1 1/2 cups milk (I used almond milk)
2 Tbsp flour
1 Tbsp cream cheese
1 cup parmesan cheese (I used shredded)
few shakes red pepper flakes
few shakes italian seasoning
salt to taste
pepper to taste
1 large tomato (or 2 small, or 4 little)
1 package Quorn chicken tenders (or other vegetarian chicken)

Directions:
Roast the squash:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cut squash in half, and scrape out the seeds and gooey bits. Place sides face down in a baking pan with sides, filled with 1/2-1 inch of water. Roast for 30-45 minutes.

While the squash is roasting:
- Chop the tomatoes into bite sized pieces
- Cook the veg chicken in a frying pan until browned and cooked through
- Make the sauce:
---melt the butter in a saucepan, add garlic and cook for a few minutes.
---add the flour and wisk into a paste
---add the milk and wisk until combined well over medium heat
---once hot, add cream cheese and spices and wisk until combined well
---take off of heat and mix in parmesan cheese

Remove all of the flesh from the squash with a fork - it will be a spaghetti consistency.
In a square baking dish (8x8 or 9x9):
layer squash, some of the sauce and chicken and tomatoes. Then layer with the remaining squash, sauce, tomatoes and chicken. Stir until mixed well and spread evenly in the dish. Top with parmesan cheese, and place under the broiler (low) for up to 5 minutes - until cheese is melted and starts to brown.

Vegetarian Honey Mustard Pretzel-Crusted "Chicken"

Recipe is adapted from: http://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/honey-mustard-pretzel-chicken/

Note: I changed the sauce recipe a bit - added half the amount of vinegar and also reduced the amount of bread crumbs and pretzels. Adjust the sauce to your tastes.

Shown here served with garlic mashed cauliflower.

Ingredients:

1 package Gardein chikn scallopini (freezer section)

1 cup panko crumbs

1 cup pretzel crumbs (about 2 cups of whole pretzels)

1/2 cup flour, plus more if needed

1/2 cup neutral tasting olive oil

1/2 cup Dijon mustard

1/3 cup honey (Iike clover or orange blossom)

1/4 cup water

1.5 Tbsp red wine vinegar

coarse salt and fresh ground black pepper

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400° F. Grease a baking pan, or line with tin foil.

In a food processor pulse the pretzels until they are coarsely ground (some small pieces left). Add them to a shallow, wide bowl and mix with the panko crumbs. 

Add the oil, mustard, honey, water and vinegar to a food processor and blend a few seconds until smooth.

Season with salt and pepper.

Set up one bowl with flour and another bowl with half of the dressing - so you have 3 bowls including the one with the bread crumbs and pretzels. Take the (frozen) gardein cutlets one by one. First, coat with flour shaking off any excess. Then, fully coat with the dressing. Place in the third bowl and cover fully with the bread crumb mixture, pressing it on if necessary.

Add the cutlets to the baking pan and bake for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway. Serve with the remainder of the dressing.

Vegetarian Beef-less Stew

I followed this recipe almost exactly: http://www.gardein.com/recipe_detail.php?r=84

Ingredients:
1 package Gardein beefless tips

3 Tbsp vegetable oil
10 oz pearl onions, peeled
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
2 medium carrots, ½ inch diced
½ tsp dried thyme
½ tsp dried rosemary
3 tbsp flour
3 cups vegan "beef" broth (try better than bouillon brand) or roasted vegetable stock
1 cup dry red wine such as cabernet sauvignon
2 medium potatoes, ½ inch diced
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Heat oil in a large saucepan on medium high heat, add beefless tips and brown on all sides. Remove from saucepan and set aside. I recommend chopping the beef tips in half so the chunks aren't as large in the stew.

Peel the pearl onions. I found this link helpful: http://www.seriouseats.com/2011/02/knife-skills-how-to-peel-pearl-onions.html . Basically, cut the top and bottom off of each onion. Score the top of the onion (see the video) so the skin will be easier to remove. Add them to boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes and remove. The skins should come off easily.

Add pearl onions, garlic and celery to saucepan and cook for 3 minutes. Add carrots, thyme, and rosemary and continue to cook for 3 minutes. Sprinkle in flour, then slowly add broth and wine while stirring.Add potatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Add beefless tips back in and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Vegetarian (Gardein) Chicken Parm

Recipe from: http://www.gardein.com/recipe_detail.php?r=79

Ingredients:
1 package Gardein Chikn Scallopini (In this recipe you bread/fry it yourself. You can also skip this by getting the Gardein cutlets which are already breaded and come with sauce. But doing it yourself is better)


white all purpose flour
1 whole egg
bread crumbs

2 cups tomato sauce of your choice
~1 cup canola oil for frying
7oz | 200g dried spaghetti noodle of your choice
2oz | 50g olive oil
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese
to taste: salt, black pepper

Directions:

for the spaghetti, bring to the boil heavily salted water. (follow cooking instructions on the box).

In a large flat bottom bowl (large enough to fit the scallopini) whisk the egg until smooth.
Dust the scallopini in flour, shake off excess flour and roll in whisked egg. gently roll in the bread crumbs and fully coat the scallopini.

Add canola oil (at least 1/4" of oil) and preheat pan to a medium heat. pan fry the scallopini for about 90 secs each side until golden brown.once golden, spoon enough sauce to cover the scallopini and top with the mozzarella and parmesan. keep the rest of the cheeses for the pasta. bake at 375°C until cheese is melted and lightly golden (about 5-10 mins).

once the spaghetti is cooked and drained, return to heat and add sauce, olive oil, salt and pepper.neatly arrange the noodles in the center of both plates, sprinkle with the remaining parmesan. top with the gardein™ chick´n parmesan and garnish with a sprig of herb.

tip: do not rinse pasta under cold water, this rises off the starch and lowers the quality of the dish.

Fettuccine Pesto Alfredo

from: http://www.bigoven.com/recipe/175049/creamy-pesto-fettucine-alfredo

Shown here served with vegetarian chicken (Quorn gruyere cutlet)

Ingredients:
1 package (1 lb) fettuccine (I used whole wheat)
1/2 cup pesto (store bought, or home made recipe here)
2 cups heavy cream
3 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
2 small heads broccoli (optional - or any type of vegetable you want to add)
salt and pepper to taste
italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, minced garlic to taste (optional)

Directions:
Bring water to a boil and begin cooking pasta according to package directions. Cook until just UNDER al dente.
Cut broccoli into bit-sized florets. Steam for 8 minutes and set aside.
While pasta and broccoli are cooking, make the sauce. Pour the heavy cream and veggie broth into a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for about 10 minutes, or until slightly reduced. Stir in pesto and parmesan and simmer until combined and cheese is melted. Add salt and pepper to taste, plus any other spices you wish (I added some italian seasoning and some garlic and onion powder, and a little bit of minced garlic).
Once sauce is to your liking, put drained pasta and sauce in the same pan. Cook pasta in the sauce for about 10 minutes or until sauce thickens - the starch in the pasta will thicken the sauce. Then, add the broccoli (or any other steamed veggies you are using) and stir well until combined. Serve with some parmesan cheese on top if you wish. We ate it with some vegetarian Quorn gruyere cutlets with some pesto on top.