Recipe: Vegan Sooji Halwa with Pineapples and Pistachios

This Indian dish is nutty, slightly sweet, and has a lovely aroma from the cardamom.

Sooji is another term for cream of wheat. When my mother and mother-in-law visit, they always make a breakfast entree or dessert using Sooji, which can be found at Indian grocery stores. I'm sure you can use the Cream of Wheat you find at the store as long as the only ingredient listed on the box is wheat. 

I made a dessert out of the Sooji last night using pineapples and chopped pistachios. I found the recipe here. 

To make the dish more savory, you can sautee some finely chopped onions and add it to the sooji halwa along with some chopped tomatoes and a little cilantro. You can substitute cashew halves and raisins for the pistachios and pineapple. 

Recipe: French Onion White Bean Dip

This bean dip is salty with a strong onion flavor -- just like commercial French Onion dips. 

If you're looking for a simple Super Bowl snack to make ahead of time, this French Onion White Bean Dip does the trick. You can make it as creamy as you like by adding more water during the blending process, but I find that keeping it chunky is just as delicious. 

While the miso adds an additional salty component, it also adds umami. If you leave out the miso, the dip is soy-free.

You could always leave out the beans and just incorporate the onions and seasoning into vegan sour cream, but this recipe allows for you to get some fiber and nutrients into your diet via the small white beans.

French Onion White Bean Dip

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup minced dried onion (the kind you find in the spice aisle) and 1/2 cup of water to re-hydrate it.

• 1 tsp oil 

• 15-oz. can of small white beans 

• 1 tsp garlic powder 

• 1 tsp salt 

• 1 tsp white miso paste 

• 1 tsp organic sugar or other sweetener 

• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice or vinegar 

• 1 cup water 

Directions:

Re-hydrate the onion in 1/2 cup of water. After 15 minutes, drain excess liquid if any. I just tilted the bowl slightly over the sink and pushed on the onions with the back of a spoon to remove the excess water. 

Heat the oil in a skillet and cook onions until lightly browned (10-15 minutes). While onions cook, add all other ingredients to a food processor. When onions are done, reserve 1/4 cup of the onions and add the rest to the food processor. Blend until smooth and add extra water 1 tablespoon at a time if too thick. Once smooth, taste and see if you want more salt or lemon juice. Add the remaining onion except for 1 tablespoon that you will sprinkle over the top before serving. Blend the mixture for 30 seconds and refrigerate until cold.

Review: Drink Chia Lemon Blueberry

Drink Chia offers four flavors. I received Lemon Blueberry in my January Vegan Cuts Snack Box. The drink is best served chilled, and don't forget to shake the bottle before drinking.

Drink Chia's bottled beverages contain an interesting ingredient: whole chia seeds.

I hardly noticed the seeds at first when I was chugging it down. Toward the end of the bottle, you do get bombarded by a large amount of the gelatinous seeds, but they go with the flow thanks to their slippery coating that emerges upon soaking. 

People who are sensitive to textures in their drink may find it odd at first. Oh, and if you collect the seeds in the bottom of your mouth while you drink, check your smile later because you're bound to have some seeds stuck in your teeth. 

The lemon and blueberry flavors work well together. There was almost a lightly sweetened ice-tea flavor to it, which I particularly enjoyed. Often called a "super food," chia seeds are loaded with fiber and minerals. 

Drink Chia's beverages are geared toward active people who want a wholesome energy drink. I’ll stick to water for now, but if I ever come across this drink, I won’t hesitate to try the other flavors: Honeysuckle Pear, Strawberry Citrus, and Mango Tangerine.

Bonus: Check out Vegan Cuts for a deal on the product.

Recipe: Creamy Potato Salad with Tofu Eggs

This potato salad is creamy, tangy, and has chunks of "tofu egg salad" in it.

Who doesn’t love a good potato salad?!

I prefer mine on the saucy side and with a bit of a tang to it. I want to taste the tender potato chunks with crunchy elements, such as chopped celery. I also like a mild pungent flavor that only green onions can provide. 

Before I became vegan, I loved chopped boiled eggs in my potato salad. I can still have that egg flavor and texture with black salt and tofu.  

Creamy Potato Salad with Tofu Eggs

(Inspired by this recipe from Kraft.

Ingredients:

1/4 c. – 1/2 c. of prepared tofu egg salad (recipe below)

3 medium-sized red potatoes cut into small chunks (I leave the skins on)

1/3 c. – 1/2 c. of vegan mayo (start with less and add more if needed)

1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar

1/2 tsp – 1 tsp of organic sugar

4 green onions sliced thinly (include most of the green part, too)

1-2 stalks of celery sliced thinly

Directions:

Boil the potatoes until fork tender, 15-20 minutes. Drain under cold water and set aside.

Mix the mayonnaise, mustard, and vinegar. Add ½ tsp of sugar and taste. Add more sugar if you want a sweeter sauce. If you want more tang, add a little more mustard or vinegar. Add the potatoes, green onions, and celery and mix well. Fold in the tofu egg salad (add the egg mixture 1/4 c. at a time until you get the ratio and taste you prefer). If you have any vegan bacon, chop some up, pan fry until crispy, and add to the potato salad.

Tofu Egg Salad

Ingredients:

12-15 oz container of extra firm tofu

1/4 c. of vegan mayo

1 tsp of yellow mustard or 1 tsp of Dijon mustard – you can add 1 tsp of both if you like the taste of mustard

3 tablespoons of sweet pickle relish 

1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice or 1 tablespoon of vinegar or pickle juice

1 tsp of smoked paprika

1 tsp of turmeric 

Dash of black pepper

Dash of hot sauce

1 tsp of black salt (also called Kala Namak)

Directions:

Drain your tofu and wrap it in some paper towels while you assemble your sauce. In a bowl, mix everything but the tofu together. Once all your ingredients (except the tofu) are mixed, taste it. It should be salty, tangy, and egg-like in flavor. Add the tofu, and break it up with a fork or potato masher. Make it as chunky as you like. Mix everything well and taste. Add more relish or a pinch of black salt. Be careful with the black salt; too much and your dish will be very salty.

Review: Vegan Subscription Boxes – Conscious Box and Vegan Cuts

Getting a care package in the mail is a nice surprise, but not many of us are fortunate enough to receive one on a monthly basis from loved ones. 

So why not send yourself a care package, or subscription boxes, as they’re usually called?

I subscribe to three vegan-themed boxes that arrive monthly at my home:

This was my January Conscious Box. There was a small nail polish bottle, a coffee sleeve, coupons, teas, sun screen, a doggy poop bag, two food bars, a protein powder packet, lotion, baby wipes, and a supplement product. This is a good representation of what to expect each month.

• Conscious Box: An assortment of vegan snacks and beauty products (about 7-10 items), such as drink powders, veggie chips, tea bags, and lotions; and small cruelty-free products, such as glass storage containers, coffee sleeves, moistened wipes, and doggy poop bags. Prices range from $19.95 for one month, $18.95/month for three months, $17.95/month for six months, $16.95/month for 12 months. (Plans automatically renew, so you must cancel from your account online.) The boxes ship within the U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii. I signed up for the box with a 50-percent-off code, so my boxes cost less than $10/month.

This was the January Snack Box from Vegan Cuts. It contained a full-size bottle of an energy drink, a small jar of gourmet peanut butter, one bag of hemp seeds (not pictured), a snack bar, a small bag of baked chickpeas, a small packet of olives, teas, a powdered drink mix, and crackers. This is a good representation of what to expect each month, but some months are better than this box. 

• Vegan Cuts Snack Box: An assortment of vegan snacks and drinks (around 7-10 items), including products from new companies and those who have been in the business for a while. I’ve received samples of nut butters, full-size protein and snack bars, and a variety of teas and drink mixes. A lot of the snacks are gluten-free. It costs $19.95 a month (an extra $8 to ship to Canada and an extra $15 to ship worldwide). You must cancel by the 10^th of the month, or your credit card will be charged automatically. 

The January Beauty Box from Vegan Cuts. It contained a louffa, hair detangler spray, lotion packets, full-size lip gloss, and a sample-size of underarm deodorant. This is a good representation of what to expect each month, but some months with big holidays -- like December (Christmas) -- have bigger items. 

• Vegan Cuts Beauty Box: An assortment of beauty products (around 4-7 items), including full-size and sample-size creams, makeup, and nail polish. I also have received cute little makeup bags. The price for the beauty box is the same as the snack box -- $19.95 a month (an extra $8 to ship to Canada and an extra $15 to ship worldwide). You must cancel by the 10^th of the month or your credit card will be charged automatically.

I was paying full price for both the Vegan Cuts Snack and Beauty boxes until Cyber Monday. On that day, the company offered a deal on their gift boxes. You can purchase gift boxes for the snack and beauty boxes, and it’s for a set amount of time – 1 month, 3 months, or 6 months. Their Cyber Monday deal brought the price of the 6-month subscription boxes down to $16.50/month, so I ordered a 6-month subscription for both the snack and beauty boxes. 

The gift boxes cost more per their time frame ($25, $70, and $115, respectively) because the company wants a way to reward people who sign up for the monthly boxes and pay automatically each month.  The gift-box prices for 1 month, 3 month, and 6 month to ship to Canada (they don’t mention worldwide) is $30, $80, and $150, respectively.

My Conscious Box subscription ends in March, and I won’t be renewing. I haven’t been as disappointed in the box as some customers have been (check out Conscious Box’s Facebook page to see what others are saying), but that could be because I’m paying less than $10 per box. The contents in the box seem to cost $8-$10, so I can see why people who pay $16 or more might be upset. The boxes contain mostly sample-sized products, but once in a while you get a full-sized item, which is exciting. The small items look similar to freebies that fall out of magazines.

If you really want a vegan subscription box, I would go with Vegan Cuts. Although Vegan Cuts’ boxes contain sample-size products, they are good about providing quality items – things you’d actually want to eat and apply to your skin. The full-sized items they provide are usually very useful, such as face cleaners, beauty bags, makeup products, and large food items. I have received canned vegan food and full-size Dandies marshmallows.

These subscription boxes are obviously a luxury item, but they are fun to receive. They also usually contain coupons. A good thing about these boxes is that I have learned about products that I didn’t even know existed. That’s why I like the Beauty Box from Vegan Cuts in particular. I know very little about the cruelty-free makeup market, so it’s helpful to get to test products before going out and buying things. 

Recipe: Borscht (Beet Soup)

This thick, sweet soup makes it easy to incorporate beets into your diet. Beets are rich in antioxidants and are heart-healthy. Read more about their benefits here.

This soup has a deep maroon color and is sweet thanks to the beets, sweet potatoes, and carrot. Adding a splash of fresh lemon juice just before serving provides a little acid to cut through the sweetness.

Borscht

(Inspired by the recipe from The Lotus and the Artichoke cookbook)

Ingredients:

3 medium beets, peeled and chopped into small pieces

2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into small pieces

1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped into small pieces

1 small onion, chopped

2T olive oil

1T apple cider vinegar

4 cups water

1tsp salt

Garnish: fresh dill or dillweed; vegan yogurt or vegan sour cream; fresh lemon juice

Directions:

In a large pot, sautee the onion in the oil for 5 minutes. Add the chopped beets, sweet potatoes, and carrot, and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring regularly. Add the vinegar, and cook for 1 minute. Add 4 cups water, bring the water to a boil, cover the pot, and simmer until the vegetables are fork tender (about 15-25 minutes). Blend the mixture with a hand blender or blend in batches in a high-speed blender (be careful when blending hot food/liquids in a blender – allow room at the top for steam to escape). Return the pureed vegetables to the pot. Add the salt, and stir the mixture well. Taste and add salt to your liking. Serve hot with a little fresh lemon juice squeezed over the top. Garnish with a dollop of vegan sour cream or yogurt and sprinkle with fresh dill or dillweed. 

Review: Harmless Harvest Cinnamon and Clove Coconut Water

Harmless Harvest makes a delicious cinnamon and clove version of their coconut water. Harmless Harvest uses BPA-free bottles. The other brands that I've tried -- Vita Coco, Zico, and O.N.E. have a weird aftertaste, and the water doesn't taste as fresh as Harmless Harvest's. 

Harmless Harvest's plain coconut water is exceptional. You will not find a tastier coconut water than what Harmless Harvest produces. Their coconut water is always stored chilled and must be refrigerated as soon as you get home with your purchase.

The coconut water is refreshing and crisp and tastes like you stuck a straw in the middle of a coconut before you began sipping away. The coconut flavor is everywhere but not in an overpowering way. And if you're lucky, you'll grab a bottle that has pink water inside. Each 8 oz bottle contains the water from about one coconut, and some coconuts have higher levels of antioxidants, thus causing the water to take on a rosy hue. So if you get a bottle with pinkish water inside, enjoy it!

Today I wanted to try Harmless Harvest's seasonal offering: cinnamon and clove coconut water. It's just as refreshing as the plain coconut water, but it has a strong clove aftertaste. It's as if you just finished chewing a yummy ginger snap!

I think I'll stick to the plain, but you really can't go wrong with either option.