Lick-The-Bowl Cheezy Cabbage Potato Soup

This is the ultimate comfort soup! It’s SO GOOD you’ll want to lick the bowl when you’re done! The cabbage and mushrooms are such nice additions too.

Cheezy Cabbage Potato Soup

This recipe is from Melomeals: Vegan For $3.33 A Day (FAV!) I added sliced baby portobello mushrooms because I had them and they were a nice addition! The ingredient list is long but this is actually a really easy soup to make so don’t be intimidated!!

Cooking spray (optional, you can water saute if you’re oil-free)

1 onion (around 1 cup, diced)

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp dried dill

1 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp caraway seeds

5 cloves garlic

pinch salt

6 cups shredded green cabbage (around 1/2 a medium head) – (I used the fresh organic cabbage from my CSA box, YUMMY!!!)

1 (8oz) pack of sliced baby portobello mushrooms (white mushrooms would be okay too)

2 cups diced potatoes (around 2 medium) – (Used the organic potatoes from my CSA, so good!)

1-2 canned chipotle pepper in adobo (use 1 if you don’t like heat in your soup) – I use 2

6 cups water

1.5 bouillon cubes – I use no salt added veggie broth cubes

black pepper to taste

Method:
1. In a large, heavy bottomed soup pan over medium heat spray with cooking spray add the onions, garlic and spices. Cook for several minutes, or until the onion is translucent.

2. Now, add the cabbage, mushrooms, potatoes and chipotle pepper(s) and coat with the spice/onion mixture for several more minutes. This part is tricky because the veggies haven’t cooked down yet so use two spoons to mix.

3. Add the water and bouillon and bring to a boil, uncovered. Simmer for several minutes, then turn the heat down to low and cover and allow the potatoes and cabbage to cook.

4. Meanwhile, prepare the ‘cheese/cream mixture’

Cheesy Cream:

1/2 block lite tofu – I used half a box of Organic Mori -Nu Firm Silken Tofu

1/4 cup nutritional yeast

1.5 Tbsp tahini

2 tsp dijon mustard

2 small cloves garlic – I used about 1 Tbsp minced garlic

1 tsp yellow mustard (prepared)

2 Tbsp umeboshi vinegar (or 1 T soy sauce and 1 T lemon juice)

1 Tbsp lemon juice

Directions:

1. Process all of the above in a food processor until totally smooth.

2. When the soup is done take it off the heat (this is VERY important or the mixture will curdle) and stir the cream mixture into the pot.

3. Let it sit, covered for 5 minutes and taste for salt/pepper.

4. If you’d like, add around 3 cups of the soup to the food processor and puree for a creamier soup (and to get all of the cheesy sauce out!). Add the pureed soup back into the pot – THIS IS WHAT I DID

This makes around 8 cups of soup… trust me you will LOVE the leftovers! This soup gets better the longer it sits in the fridge too!

Saute onion, garlic and spices. Add in cabbage, potato, mushrooms and chipotle

Add water and bouillon

Make Cheezy Cream in food processor (only takes a minute!)

I added 2+ cups of soup into the food processor with cheeze, blended then poured back into main soup

Poured back in

Yummy!

Kool Ranch Kale Chips

WOW these are good! I’ve made a ton of kale chips in the past but these are my new favorite!! I used my dehydrator to make these but you can use a regular cookie sheet lined with parchment paper if you don’t have one.

Kool Ranch Kale Chips

Kool Ranch Kale Chips

1 cup raw cashews, soaked in hot water for 1 hour to soften

-1 bunch of kale – I used lacinato/dinosaur kale but it would be good with any kind

-1/8 – 1/4 cup water

-1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

-1 Tbsp nutritional yeast

-1 tsp dried parsley

-1/4 tsp garlic powder

-1/4 tsp dried dill

– 1/4 tsp onion powder

– 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

-1/4 tsp sea salt

-1/4 red onion, chopped 

-paprika and extra sea salt for pre-dehydration sprinkling

1.) Blend (great in a VitaMix!) the cashews, water and seasonings in a blender until smooth. Place mixture in the bottom of a large mixing bowl and add the chopped onions.

2.) Wash the kale and remove the stems. Tear off chip-sized pieces of the kale and add to the bowl. Using your hands, massage the mixture onto the kale bites so that each piece is well coated.

3.) Transfer the kale to your dehydrator or parchment lined baking sheet and sprinkle with paprika and additional sea salt.

4.) Dehydrate for 5-8 hours at 115 degrees – my dehydrator took about 5 hours

** If you use the oven method,  spread kale chips on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven until crisp, on the lowest setting with the door slightly ajar.

Blend cashews, seasoning and water

Add to bowl with onions

Wash kale, remove stems, tear into chip pieces and add to bowl

Massage mixture into each piece and transfer to baking sheet or dehydrator, top with salt & paprika

Dehydrate for 5-8 hours at 115 degrees

Yummy!

Bet you can't eat just one!

Original recipe from The Kurious Kale website.

Yummy Bean Soup

This soup is delicious! It’s a little spicy and very satisfying with a side of toasted naan (if you eat bread, we do no more than twice a week) and a glass of red wine (or hemp milk for my toddler!). This recipe is from HealthyMammas.com – home of  the recently made Creamy Dreamy Superfood Pudding and Black Bean & Corn Quinoa (2 more fabulous recipes!).  This recipe is toddler approved, she ate the whole bowl but she commented on it being “spicy Mommy spicy” the whole time… you may want to back off the chili powder if you have a spice sensitive child. My daughter will eat wasabi peas and dried chili mango so she may be the exception. 🙂

Bean Soup

Ingredients (Serves 6-8)

  • 1 7/8 lbs 15 bean soup mix (I used the 8-bean soup mix from my CSA – about 5 1/2 cups)
  • 1 quart low sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (you can use veggie broth or water to sauté instead – I used broth)
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, chopped
  • 1 box frozen chopped spinach, or 10 oz of fresh, chopped spinach (I used fresh – 2 bunches organic spinach)
  • 2 carrots, thinly sliced (I used leftover shredded carrots from Healthy Veggie Muffins)
  • 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained (I used fire roasted with garlic)
  • 8 tablespoons lemon juice (about 2 lemons worth) – this makes it!!
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 dashes Tabasco sauce (Didn’t have any so I used a big squirt of Sriracha)
  • 1 tablespoon oregano
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground thyme
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 tablespoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tablespoon salt (optional)

Instructions

  • Soak beans overnight, or at least 8 hours. Drain and rinse.
  • Cook beans in water until just tender by simmering on the stove in 2 qts. water for 1 1/2 hours. (or more) (Can also cook in slower cooker or pressure cooker.).
  • Shortly before the beans are done, saute onion and garlic in oil (or veggie broth) until slightly brown.
  • When beans are done, drain half the cooking water.
  • Add all remaining ingredients and simmer, uncovered, for 40-60 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Beans are cooked, adding in remaining ingredients (except spinach)

Added chopped spinach

Delish!!

Black Bean & Corn Quinoa

This is very healthy, easy to make and delicious! My husband and toddler LOVED it! You could eat this dish with a ton of things, we had it with wheat tortillas, shredded carrots, cilantro and leftover TVP Taco “Meat” and a side of Garlic Yu Choy.

Black Bean & Corn Quinoa

I found this recipe on a new food blog I’ve been checking out – Healthy Mammas. I made their Creamy Dreamy Superfood Pudding a few days ago and that was really good!

Black Bean & Corn Quinoa

Ingredients (serves 4 to 6)

  • 1/2 onion finely chopped
  • 3 cloves minced garlic
  • 3/4 cup uncooked quinoa
  • 2 cups organic veggie broth (plus a bit more for sauteing your onions and garlic)
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional – I used 1/8 tsp)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 (15oz) can black beans drained and rinsed
  • Optional (Throw in a can of drained diced tomatoes – OR serve with some fresh salsa) – I added one can of Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes with Garlic… YUM!
  • Chopped cilantro, to top (optional but good!)

Instructions

  • Saute onion and garlic in a few tablespoons of veggie broth over medium heat until soft and almost translucent.
  • Add the garlic when the onions are about 1/2 done…you may need to add a little more broth as they cook to keep them moist and keep them from sticking.
  • Mix in quinoa and cover with 2 cups veggie broth.
  • Season with spices and salt & pepper.
  • Bring to boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until most of the liquid is gone…about 10 to 15min.
  • Stir in corn, black beans and diced tomatoes – continue to cook on low heat for about 5 more minutes until all liquid is absorbed and everything is heated through. (add a little extra veggie broth if needed)
  • Taste and season with additional sea salt if needed.
  • Enjoy!

Saute onions & garlic in broth

Add quinoa, broth & spices

Add corn & black beans

Add tomatoes (if using)

I used these, they're yummy!

Thai Chili Peanut Sauce

I have the best husband! He is always willing to run to the store for me if I need anything, no matter how crazy the item is or how long the list. He went to Sprouts for me a few days ago AND took our toddler to give me a much-needed break. He brought home these Chili Peanuts and said he thought they looked good but they weren’t. He must have been hungry… Rule #1 of grocery shopping is not to go when you are hungry otherwise you end up with things like this.

I asked Melody of Melomeals: Vegan For $3.33 A Day what she would do with them (she is the recipe invention master!) and she suggested a peanut sauce. Great idea! I went through my fridge and cupboards and I found soba noodles, a leftover red pepper from making Red Lentil Thai Chili, cilantro, limes, fresh ginger, Morningstar Chick-n Strips, panang curry paste, half a can of coconut milk, leftover shredded carrots from making Carrot Breakfast Bread, snow peas and a fresh bag of organic spinach from my CSA delivery. Okay… time to invent something!

After adding, tasting and blending for what seemed like forever… my Chili Peanut Sauce came out pretty tasty! This sauce would go well with a bunch of things but I made it into a noodle dish with the red pepper, carrots, snap peas, spinach, Morningstar Chick-n Strips and soba noodles.

Thai Chili Peanut Sauce

Ingredients

* 1 cup chili peanuts

* 2 Tbsp panang chili paste – you could use any curry paste but the panang was really good!

* 1/2 – 3/4 cup coconut milk

* 2 Tbsp fresh ginger

* 3 cloves garlic

* 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice

* 1/4 cup cilantro

* 1-2 Tbsp maple syrup

* 2 Tbsp soy sauce

* 1 tsp Sriracha (optional)

* Big pinch of salt

Directions:

* Add all ingredients to high-powered blender (I used my VitaMix) and blend until smooth.

* Add more coconut milk if it’s too thick

* I’m pretty sure this would work in a food processor but I haven’t tried it yet. Next time.

For the noodle dish I added this sauce to:

* I cooked my soba noodles

* Sautéed 1 diced red pepper, 1 cup shredded carrots and 1 cup snow peas in a tiny bit of peanut oil

* I then added the Morningstar Chik-n Strips and cooked for about 3-4 minutes, stirring often

* Added 1 cup of sauce, then noodles and spinach (about 5-6 cups) and mixed with tongs, cooked on low heat until spinach wilted and sauce was covering all ingredients.

* I served this with Sriracha Hot Sauce, it really made the dish!! You could use regular whole wheat spaghetti for this too. Top with fresh cilantro and maybe a little lime juice, if you wish.

AMAZING BBQ Tempeh, Broccoli & Goaty Cheeze Pizza

Dinner was AMAZING tonight, a leftover extravaganza!! I emptied the fridge and put this together using some of my leftovers for the week, you may recognize a few!

Ingredients:

* Chickpea Flatbread Pizza “Crusts”

* 2-3 Tbsp Kale Butter

* 1 1/2 cup frozen broccoli florets, cooked

* 4-6 slices BBQ Tempeh, mashed with sauce

* Goaty Cashew Cheeze, to top pizza (about 1/2 cup)

* 5-6 cloves of garlic (or 3-4 Tbsp jarred chopped garlic… I like a lot!)

* Fresh or frozen basil (I take fresh basil, add it with a tiny bit of olive oil in the food processor and blend until smooth. Then I freeze it flat in a plastic bag and break off chunks when I need fresh basil for a recipe)

Directions:

* First, I made a new batch of Chickpea Flatbread using my new Creole Spice Mix from World Spice Merchant (instead of Creole Seasoning called for in the original recipe). My spice order arrived today so I was looking for a way to test it out!

* Fresh spices make such a huge difference! Here’s my Chickpea Flatbread Pizza “Crust” (Recipe from Melomeals: Vegan For $3.33 A Day)

Chickpea Flatbread/Pizza

* Then, I mashed up my leftover BBQ Tempeh and heated it…

BBQ Tempeh Leftovers - Mashed

* Next I spread my leftover Kale Butter onto my new Chickpea Flatbread Pizza “crust”…

* Then I steamed 1 1/2 cups frozen broccoli in the microwave…

* Saute garlic in pan – I used jarred garlic and sautéed it with the liquid from the jar. I like my garlic brown…

* Top pizza in this order or the order you wish – kale butter, bbq tempeh, broccoli, Goaty Cashew Cheese (dollop it evenly onto pizza using a small melon baller or whatever works for you), basil and sautéed garlic. SO FANTASTIC!!!

Just one more pic…