Gluten Free, Vegan Gingerbread Cake

image & recipe @http://www.yummly.com/recipe/external/Gluten-free-vegan-gingerbread-307895

Adapted from Joy of Cooking's Applesauce Gingerbread.

Makes one 8x8 cake.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
• 6 tablespoons warm water
• 5/6 cup (100 grams) millet flour
• 5/6 cup (100 grams) teff flour
• 1/3 cup (50 grams) potato starch (not flour)
• 1 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup coconut palm sugar
• 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8x8-inch pan or line it with parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl, stir together the flax and warm water until the mixture is thick and creamy. Set aside for at least 10 minutes.
3. Sift the dry ingredients (except the coconut palm sugar) into a large mixing bowl.
4. In another mixing bowl, combine the coconut palm sugar, molasses, coconut oil, applesauce, and flax mixture; whisk until well blended. Add to the dry ingredients and stir to blend.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until set in the middle and a tester comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool in pan on rack until cake is cool enough to handle, then turn out.

Best eaten the same day. Refrigerate leftovers.

Mexican Chocolate Cake

(gluten, dairy, egg & refined sugar-free, vegan recipe)

Prep time: 20 mins

cook time: 40  mins

Serves: 10 people

image & recipe @taste.com.au

Dry:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour
• 3/4 cup coconut flour
• 1 1/2 cups raw cacao powder, sifted
• 1 tbs baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp Himalayan pink salt 
• 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon 
• 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon 
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Wet:

• 1/2 cup extra virgin coconut oil
• 1/2 cup apple sauce
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 cups coconut nectar
• 2 tbs orange zest 
• 1 banana mashed
• 1 tbs coconut oil (to grease the baking tin)

Frosting:

• 1 cup raw cacao powder, sifted
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup coconut nectar
• 1 tbs orange zest
• 1/4 tsp cayenne powder
• Pinch Himalayan pink salt
• 2 tbs orange zest, to serve
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds, to serve

Equipment:

You will need a 22cm springform tin.

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (180° fan-forced).
2. Prepare the springform cake tin by greasing with coconut oil and lining base and sides with baking paper.
3. Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine all wet ingredients. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, whisking as you go, until thoroughly combined and smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared cake tin and bake for 40-45 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Leave to cool completely at room temperature and turn out onto a serving platter.
4. In a large bowl, whisk all ingredients for the frosting until smooth. Pour over cooled cake and spread evenly with a spatula. Top with orange zest and slivered almonds.

Vegan Fluffy Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Total time: 8 mins

Makes:  4 cups

image & recipe @yummly.com

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup nonhydrogenated shortening
• 1/2 cup nonhydrogenated margarine
• 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted if clumpy
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup plain soy milk or soy creamer

Method:

1. Beat the shortening and margarine together until well combined and fluffy. Add the sugar and beat for about 3 more minutes.
2. Add the vanilla and soy milk, and beat for another 5 to 7 minutes until fluffy.

Variation:
Cookies ‘n’ Cream Frosting (pictured): Stir into frosting 1/2 cup (about 5 cookies; mash first, then measure) of finely mashed vegan chocolate cream-filled sandwich cookies, like Newman-O's. Frost cupcakes generously, and top each cupcake with half of a sandwich cookie.

Almond Breeze Vegan Rice Pudding

image & recipe @yummly.com

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups rice (sushi rice, jasmine, basmati are really good in pudding)
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 vanilla bean, seeded and scraped
• 7 cups Almond Breeze, vanilla or unsweetened
• pinch of sea salt
• berries

Method:

1. Start by rinsing the rice with water. Add rice to a medium saucepan. Add sugar, vanilla bean and pod, salt, and 1 cup of almond milk.
2. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the milk is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Gradually add 5 more cups of almond milk, about 1/2 cup at a time. Let the milk absorb before adding more.
3. After 25 minutes, the rice pudding will be thick and creamy.
4. Let cool, and stir in the last cup of milk. Remove vanilla bean and spoon into a pretty glass. Garnish with fresh berries, or a spoonful of preserves.

Basic Raw Vegan Mayonnaise

Total time: 1hr

Makes : 1 2/3 cups

image & recipe @chow.com

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup organic raw cashews soaked for 2 hours
• 1/4 cup cold pressed extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup raw cauliflower
• 1/2 cup filtered water
• 3 Tbsp lemon juice or more to taste
• 1 tsp mustard
• 1 tsp agave nectar
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• Tiny 1/2 pinch of Celtic sea salt or more to taste

METHOD:

1. Put the cashews and cauliflower in the blender, and add the water until combined well.
2. Slowly add the oil in one steady stream, and process until thick and creamy.
3. Place the rest of the ingredients into the blender to taste, and process until smooth.
4. Add in some more salt, mustard or lemon juice to taste until you create your perfect blend.
5. **Please note – you will need a high speed blender such as a VitaMix or BlendTec, in order to achieve a really creamy consistency.

Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe

Active Time: 10mins

Total time: 1hr, 25mins

image & recipe @chow.com

INGREDIENTS

• 2 pounds pickling cucumbers, such as Kirby, scrubbed
• 4 cups water
• 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
• 1/4 cup kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons sliced garlic
• 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh dill
• 1 tablespoon brown or yellow mustard seeds
• 1 bay leaf

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Chill the cucumbers in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.
2. Combine water, vinegar, and salt in a medium nonreactive saucepan. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the salt has dissolved, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.
3. Transfer chilled cucumbers to a large bowl. Add garlic, dill, mustard seeds, and bay leaf. Pour cooled water-vinegar mixture over the cucumbers. Place a plate or other weight on top of the cucumbers to completely submerge them in the liquid. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let it stand at room temperature for 3 to 4 days. Refrigerate the pickles in a tightly covered jar for up to 1 week.

Black-Eyed Pea Vegan Burgers

Total time:  45mins

Makes: 4 burgers

image & recipe @yummly.com

"A veggie burger shouldn’t taste like a science experiment gone wrong. Mushrooms and black-eyed peas give these vegan burgers the right moisture and density, plus bold natural flavours. Top your burger with ketchup, vegan mayonnaise, caramelised onions, sliced tomatoes, or dill pickles." 

What to buy: Tamari is wheat-free soy sauce; it can be found in gourmet groceries and Asian markets. If you have a hard time finding it, you can use slightly saltier soy sauce instead.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 6 medium cremini mushrooms (about 4 ounces), cleaned, stemmed, and sliced 1/4 inch thick
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 medium shallot, finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
• 1 medium garlic clove, minced
• 1 (15-ounce) can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
• 1 medium scallion, thinly sliced (white and light green parts only)
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves and stems
• 1/2 teaspoon tamari, plus more as needed
• 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco Sauce, plus more as needed
• 4 toasted vegan ciabatta or burger rolls, for serving

Method:

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the shallot and garlic and cook until fragrant and softened, about 2 minutes. Transfer the mushroom mixture to a small bowl and wipe the pan clean with paper towels; set aside.
2. Place the peas in a large bowl and mash with the back of a spoon or a potato masher, leaving a few of the peas intact. Add the mushroom mixture, scallion, cilantro, tamari, and Tabasco and mix until combined. Taste and season with more salt, pepper, tamari, and Tabasco as needed. Using your hands, form the mixture into 4 (3-inch-wide) patties (about 1/3 cup each).
3. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in the reserved frying pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the patties and fry until the outsides are browned, about 5 to 6 minutes per side. Serve on toasted ciabatta or burger rolls with your favorite toppings.