Pumpkin Porridge with Amaranth

Yes it's another #amaranth porridge. I really do love amaranth. What can I say!!! You could make this with any grain actually. Quinoa, oatmeal, millet!!!! Technically, it's really a seed. Just like quinoa but it's treated like a grain. Works for me. Amaranth is very similar to quinoa but much smaller. It has been around for 8,000 years. 8,000 years!!!! That's pretty incredible. It's loaded with lysine too. Lysine helps the body absorb calcium, build muscle and produce energy. 

Ok, let's get started. Here is what you will need. 
3 cups of water
1 cup of amaranth
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 to 1 tsp cinnamon - depends on how much you like
1 or 2 tbsp of real maple syrup - depends on how sweet you like it.

The following I did not measure. I just tossed some into my bowl.
pumpkin seeds
pecans
dried cranberry's

In a large pot, add the water and amaranth. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium low, cover and let it cook. In 15 - 20 minutes, check it. It should look really creamy. Add the pumpkin and spices and mix it up. 

Serve up a bowl and add the pumpkin seeds, pecans and dried cranberry's. Enjoy!!! It is really delicious and perfect for a cold morning. You can save the leftovers for the next day. 

Tip: You can buy amaranth in bulk at Whole Foods. It's under $3 a pound. I can't remember the exact price.

Wink Wink Chickpea Salad a.k.a. vegan tuna salad

I admit I used to love a tuna salad sandwich and a bowl of soup. Especially on a cool fall day. Well, I can have it once again with this recipe. It comes very close to what I remember as tuna salad. Of course you can adjust it with whatever you like. I know a lot of people like onion in theirs so if you want to add some of that, go right ahead. I put seaweed in mine which is really, really good for you. 

Here is what you will need:
1 can drained or about 1 1/2 cups chickpeas
1/2 cup celery finely diced
4 baby dills finely diced
three 1/2 inch strips of seaweed
1/2 to 3/4 cup of vegan mayo
salt and pepper to taste

Put the chickpeas in a food processor and pulse a few times until they become crumbly. Transfer the chickpeas to a bowl. Add everything except the seaweed. With some kitchen scissors, cut the seaweed into little pieces and put in the salad mix. When you are finished cutting, mix it all up. Taste it and make sure it's to your liking. Throw some on some toasted bread and enjoy!!!

Vegan Breakfast Burrito

Here is a fun way to start your day and who doesn't like anything in a tortilla. You can put almost anything in a tortilla and it will be delicious. 

This is a very simple burrito but you can add so much to it. This burrito has tofu scramble, meatless breakfast patties and tator tots. But, you can add beans, salsa, rice, avocado, vegan sour cream, tomato and whatever else you might desire.

Here is what you will need. 

Before starting your scramble, bake a some tator tots and your breakfast patties. You will also need a flour tortilla.

For the scramble:

7 oz extra firm organic tofu drained. Now, you probably can't find a 7 oz package so just cut a 14 oz package in half.

1/8 - 1/4 tsp turmeric

2 tbsp nooch

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1 tbsp low sodium tamari

1/2 tbsp italian herbs

1/8 tsp black salt

Combine all of the dry seasonings and set aside. Using medium heat and a fry pan, crumble the tofu into the pan. Make sure it's pretty crumbled up. Add the seasonings and combine really well. Add the tamari and mix it up some more. By now the scramble should be heated through. Give it a taste and make sure it's to your liking. 

Heat your tortilla up. When everything is cooked, it's time for assembly. Put some scramble on the tortilla, not to much though. Add some tator tots and that breakfast pattie. Oh yea, I diced my patty up. Roll it or wrap it and you it's ready to enjoy. 

After I made this, I was like, oh wow. I could have added beans, salsa and rice. You can add avocado and sour cream. The possibilities are endless. 

No Chick'n Noodle Soup

I never thought I would have chicken noodle soup again. Then I discovered Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Bouillon. Yes it's vegan and this stuff is sooo good I can't believe it. I put it in lots of stuff too. Now, I don't use it a lot because of the sodium but when I do use, it makes everything so much better.

Here is what you will need.
1 pkg of Gardein Chick'n Strips 
2 cups carrots diced
2 cups celery diced
1 1/2 cups onion diced
2 - 3 tbsp no chick'n bouillon
10 cups water
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp sage
1/2 tsp ground thyme
1 tbsp dried parsley
juice of half a lemon
1 cup of small shaped pasta

Cook the chick'n according to package directions. Once the chick'n is done, remove from the pan and dice it up. 

In a large soup pot add 10 cups of water and the bouillon. Bring to a boil to make sure the bouillon dissolves. Add the chick'n and simmer for 5 - 10 minutes. 

Add the vegetables and bring back to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for ten minutes. 

Add the seasonings and pasta. Cook until the pasta is done. Add the lemon juice and serve it up. 

It's so good, you will love it. I know it.

Chocolate Quinoa Porridge

Sometimes when I think something won't work out, I am pleasantly surprised. Chocolate quinoa porridge is one of those things and this will take care of any chocolate cravings you might have. 

It's so easy too. All you need is some cocoa and real maple syrup. I do not like mine to sweet so you can add more maple to it or less cocoa. If you are calorie counting, you can mix with water and add a little stevia. 

Here is what you will need. 

1 cup of cooked hot quinoa
2 tbsp real maple syrup
1 1/2 tbsp cocoa or carob powder
a splash of plant milk to make it creamy

Mix the cocoa and maple until it looks fudgy and like chocolate sauce. Taste it to make sure it's to your liking before adding to your quinoa. It's easier to adjust this way. Once you like how it tastes, just add it to your quinoa with a splash of your favorite plant milk. Enjoy!!!

Quinoa Broccoli Salad with Orange Dressing

Quinoa is so versatile. You can add anything to it and it always comes out great. Sweet or savory you can't go wrong. I wanted something different to make and I wanted to add some type of green to it. This is what I came up with. It's a little bit of both sweet and savory. 

Here is what you will need. 

The dressing
juice of 1 naval orange
juice of 1/2 a lime
1/2 to 1 tsp of extra virgin olive oil
1/2 a clove of minced garlic
1/4 piece of ginger grated
If your orange is not sweet enough, you can add a few drops of stevia or a small amount of real maple syrup.

Whisk it all up

The salad
1 cup cooked quinoa
1 heaping cup of mini broccoli florets
1 heaping cup of halved grape tomato
1/2 pomegranate
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup slivered almonds

Mix everything in a large bowl then add the orange dressing. Enjoy!!!

Aluminum Poisoning & D.I.Y. Organic Deodorant

I'm sure most of you know that deodorants and antiperspirants contain aluminum but do you know it can also be found in things like baking powder, pancake mix, tortilla's, pre made brownies, aspirin, antacids and vaccines. I'm sure it's in a ton of other things too. This is just what I found.
The human body does not need aluminum and the dangers of consuming it or putting it on your body are massive. Aluminum has been linked to alzheimers, dementia, breast cancer, anemia, colitis, kidney and liver disfunction, hyperactivity and many more. 

I stopped buying conventional deodorant and started making my own about two years ago. It is really easy to make and you can adjust the ingredients to your liking. It really works I swear. Here is what you will need:

2 tbsp organic cocoa butter (you will need to grate the cocoa butter)
2 tbsp organic shea butter
1/4 arrowroot powder or ALUMINUM FREE baking powder
1 tbsp baking soda
1 tbsp coconut oil
optional lavender oil

Bring to a boil a medium pot of water. In a heat safe glass cup, add the cocoa butter, shea butter and coconut oil. Once the water comes to a boil, remove from the heat and set the heat safe cup inside the hot water. Let it sit for a couple of minutes then begin to stir making sure there are no lumps. 

Add the arrowroot or baking powder and baking soda and mix it up. It should like liquid butter. Find a glass jar and pour your deodorant in. I use these 1/2 cup mason jars that work really well. It will take several hours for it to set up. When ready, just apply with your fingers. 

Some people might have an issue with the baking soda. If you do, just use a little less.