Slurpy Noodle Soup (or Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup)

With a flavor reminiscent of chicken noodle soup, this vegan version combines slurpable noodles with a flavorful broth. If making in advance, don’t add the noodles—instead, prepare the broth as directed and cook the noodles in it when reheating before you’re ready to serve it—this will avoid mushy noodle leftovers.

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Slurpy Noodle Soup

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 celery ribs, finely chopped
2 carrots, finely chopped
1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
2 1/2 litres water
1/4 cup large-flaked nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon fine sea or Himalayan salt
3/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
About 10 grinds freshly ground black pepper
Additional salt to taste
8 oz (226g) dry brown rice spaghetti or linguine, broken into approximately 3-inch pieces (I like Tinkyada)

Heat the oil in a large pot on medium heat. Add the celery, carrots, and onion. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the water, nutritional yeast flakes, parsley, bay leaf, salt, onion powder, sage, poultry seasoning, thyme, oregano, garlic powder, and pepper. Mix well. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover and decrease to a simmer. Cook for about 30 minutes, until the vegetables are tender. Taste for salt, adding more if desired (I add about 1/2 teaspoon).

Bring the soup back to a boil. Add the spaghetti. Cook until the spaghetti is tender, about 8 minutes. Remove bay leaf. Serve immediately.

Maple Buckwheat Granola with Whipped Cream and Fresh Berries

This skillet granola recipe is done in a fraction of the time of the oven methods, and with the whipped cream and seasonal fresh berries, it makes for a simple dessert or breakfast. The granola freezes well, too.The whipped cream comes from my book, The Allergy-Free Cook Bakes Cakes and Cookies.

buckwheat granola whipped cream strawberries

Maple Buckwheat Granola with Whipped Cream and Fresh Berries

For the granola:
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 cup flaked buckwheat, such as Bob’s Red Mill Creamy Buckwheat
6 tablespoons raw pumpkin seeds
2 tablespoons hemp seeds
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon fine sea or Himalayan salt

For the whipped cream:
1 (14oz) can full-fat coconut milk, refrigerated at least 24 hours
2 tablespoons icing sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For serving:
Fresh blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries

To make the granola, put the maple syrup and coconut oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Stir until the mixture just begins to bubble. Add the buckwheat flakes, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well to completely coat with the syrup mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, for about 5 minutes, until the ingredients are well mixed, fragrant, and golden in color. Remove from heat, and set aside to cool.

To make the whipped cream, put a metal stand mixer bowl or large metal bowl and wire beaters in the freezer for 20 minutes. Remove the items once they are thoroughly chilled, and take the coconut milk can out of the refrigerator, careful not to shake it. Open the can and spoon out the hardened coconut cream at the top of the can. Put the coconut cream, icing sugar, and vanilla extract in the metal bowl. Using the stand mixer or a hand mixer, beat on high until creamy and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Use right away to assemble the dessert, or refrigerate until needed.

When ready to serve, later the berries, whipped cream, and granola in individual bowls. Serve immediately.

Kale, Tofu, and Sundried Tomato Stuffed Shells with Lemon-Garlic Sauce

By using beans as the main ingredient in the sauce, you get a hint of hummus taste, extra fibre and protein, and a hearty, satisfying taste. The filling is infinitely adaptable — and amazing with mashed butternut squash and spinach, too.

pasta 1

Kale, Tofu, and Sundried Tomato Stuffed Shells with Lemon-Garlic Sauce

For the pasta:
1 8oz (226 g) box whole grain jumbo shells (I recommend Tinkyada)
Salted water, for boiling

For the filling:
1 (350 g) package extra-firm tofu, squeezed of excess moisture
Zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoon large-flaked nutritional yeast
1/2 cup packed sundried tomatoes, chopped (I use no-salt added, sulphite-free ones)
Boiling water for the tomatoes
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 cups finely chopped kale, packed
1 cup crimini mushrooms, chopped
2 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Fine sea or Himalayan salt to taste
Freshly ground pepper to taste

For the sauce:
1 bulb roasted garlic (this is listed first in the instructions)
1 can (398 ml) organic, no-salt added navy beans (about 1 1/2 cups) (I like Eden’s)
1 lemon, juiced (use the same lemon you used for the zest)
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons roasted cashew butter
2 tablespoons roasted tahini
1 tablespoon large-flaked nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Fine sea or Himalayan salt to taste
Water from the soaked sundried tomatoes (see instructions)

To roast the garlic, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (230 degrees C). Thinly slice the top of the whole garlic bulb, exposing the cloves. Wrap in foil. Bake until soft, about 45 minutes.

Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Prepare pasta according to package directions.

While the noodles are cooking, prepare the filling. Crumble the tofu in a large bowl. Stir in the zest and nutritional yeast. Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the onions, cook until softened. Add the kale, mushrooms and Italian seasoning. Drain the tomatoes, reserving the liquid. Add the mixture to the tofu, along with the sundried tomatoes. Mix to combine. Season with salt and pepper.

Meanwhile, put all of the sauce ingredients in a food processor. Use only half of the garlic and half of the lemon. Whizz until smooth. Add additional garlic, lemon, salt, pepper and nutritional yeast to taste. Set aside. (I use the whole bulb and whole lemon, although different sizes may be according to taste). Use the sundried tomato water to thin to a sauce consistency.

Once the noodles are cooked al dente, drain well. Assemble them in a 9×13 glass baking dish. Divide the mixture in the noodles. Top with the sauce. Cover with foil and bake at 350°F (180°C) for 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.