Toddler Approved Loaded Kale Salad

Our toddler couldn’t get enough of this salad, she ate two plates worth! It’s called Kathy’s Fully Loaded Kale Salad and it’s from one of my absolute favorite food blogs Healthy Happy Life. It’s got tons of goodies in it and it keeps very well for leftovers.

Here’s a picture of her devouring Kathy’s salad!

Toddler Approved!

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Meatless Monday Meatloaf & Gravy

I’ve made a lot of mock-meatloaf in my day and this one is the best! My husband and daughter love this. You can serve this for Meatless Mondays! It’s so easy to make and doesn’t require any fancy ingredients.

I got this off of one of my favorite vegan food blogs – Happy Herbivore. She has a new cookbook out too, I highly recommend it! You can buy her cookbook here.

The brown gravy requires nutritional yeast and whole wheat pastry flour but you can find both in the bulk section of Sprouts. I bet you already have everything else in your fridge… well, maybe minus the Gimme Lean Ground “Beef”. Gimme Lean also makes a sausage style one too – both are fat-free and delicious!

Gimme Lean Ground "Beef" - find it at Sprouts

These are all the ingredients you will need for the meatloaf – plus onion powder and garlic powder.

Here’s the recipe for the Mock Meatloaf:

* 1 package Gimme Lean (Beef-Style)

* 3 Tbsp Ketchup

* 2 Tbsp Yellow Mustard

* 1 small onion, diced

* 1 cup whole wheat bread crumbs (Trader Joe’s has them for cheap)

* 1/4 non-dairy milk (I use rice, almond or soy depending what I have on hand)

* 1 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce

* 1 Tbsp dry basil

Directions:

* Preheat oven to 350F

* Place a large sheet of foil in a regular bread/loaf pan – enough to make a tent over the top

* Mix all ingredients together well and place meatloaf in pan – smooth out the top and tent the foil over it

* Bake for 45 minutes or until the outside is brown and the inside is firm.

* You can smother the top with extra ketchup if you desire.

** Brown Gravy:

* 1/4 cup nutritional yeast

* 1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour

* 2 cups vegetable broth – I like to use the Imagine brand “No-Chicken Broth” – Sprouts has it

* 2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce

* 1 tsp onion powder

* 1/4 tsp garlic powder

Directions:

* Whisk nutritional yeast and whole wheat pastry flour in a medium saucepan, toast until fragrant – about 4 minutes

* Whisk in remaining ingredients

* Bring to a boil and allow to thicken as desired – it get’s pretty thick but if you want it thicker dissolve 1 Tbsp cornstarch in 2 Tbsp water and add it in

* Add salt and pepper to taste

Toast nutritional yeast and whole wheat pastry flour

Gravy... yum!!

This gravy really tastes like the real thing!

Now you are ready to serve and enjoy!

I served it with kale salad… recipe to follow!

Nacho Night and The Best Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix! (Sounds like a band name, doesn’t it?!)

Who doesn’t like nachos?! We have nacho night at our house at least once a month (our junk food night), my husband loves it! As I’ve said before, I have a few nacho-type “cheese” recipes that I rotate for different types of food – nachos, bean dip, broccoli “cheese” potatoes,  enchiladas, tacos, etc.

I used this potato-based vegan Fake-Out Cheese recipe for this batch of nachos, along with my husband’s favorite fake meat crumbles (Quorn brand – mushroom protein crumbles – orange bag, freezer section at Sprouts), black beans, black olives, homemade guacamole (2 avocados and a packet of “Spicy Great Guacamole” – makes the best guac! Produce section, black packet), fresh chopped tomatoes, Tofutti brand “Better than Sour Cream” sour cream (buy at Sprouts) and salsa/hot sauce.

Yum... Nachos!

I’ve been making this Taco Seasoning Mix recipe for a couple of years now, I haven’t used store-bought taco seasoning since I found it. It’s easy to make and it tastes great! I mix this with the Quorn brand fake meat crumbles before I add them to the nachos, I dissolve 1 Tbsp cornstarch in 2 Tbsp of water then add it in at the end to thicken the sauce.
  • 2 tablespoons mild chile powder (for the best flavor do not reduce this amount) – I use chipotle or adobo chile powder
  • 1/2-1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 -3 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon seasoning salt (or use 1/2 teaspoon white salt)
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 pinch cayenne (optional or to taste)

Directions:

  1. Combine all ingredients (double or triple if desired) .
  2. Store tightly sealed in a small glass jar until ready to use.

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/kittencals-taco-seasoning-mix-76616#ixzz1Zzyh5kH8