Holiday Post!: Patriotic Pasta Salad.

Happy flag day, friendzies! Hope everyone has enjoyed the day. Here's a quick and easy little vegan addition to a family BBQ--simple to make, easy to take, and of course yummy. Enjoy! 

               Patriotic Pasta Salad. 

        So nice and festive--and all those fresh flavors!

Ingredients

1. One serving macaroni noodles, prepared and drained

2. 1 T white wine vinegar

3. 3" chunk of daikon radish, thinly sliced

4. Small handful of cherry tomatoes, sliced

5. 1/3 cup fresh blueberries

6. Onion and garlic powders to taste

Method

1. In a medium size bowl, mix all ingredients together. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Note: tastes the best when allowed to sit for a while...the flavors mingle and the overall taste is so superior to when it is enjoyed right away. 

Tomato Raisin Oatmeal with Masala Cream.

Not sure what happened here...but it's delicious, and that's all that matters, right?! Give this one a go, guys!

    Tomato Raisin Oatmeal with Masala Cream. 

                  Close up. Of course!

Tomato Raisin Oatmeal with Masala Cream. Vegan, Gluten-free. Serves one. 

Ingredients

1. 1/2 cup oatbran

2. 2 cups water, divided

3. One large Roma tomato, sliced and chopped

4. 1/4 cup raisins

5. 1. t white wine vinegar

6. One packet stevia

7. 3 oz. silken tofu

8. 1/4 tsp garam masala

9. 1 tsp braggs aminos

10. 1/2 packet stevia

Method

1. Boil your water. Add raisins and boil for 5 minutes to "plump". 

2. Reduce heat to medium and stir in oats and stevia packet. When thick, stir in second cup of water. 

3. When thickening, add tomato and vinegar and stir well. Cook 5-7 more minutes, stirring regularly, until desired thickness is obtained. 

4. In your food processor, combine tofu, masala spice, aminos, and 1/2 packet stevia. Blend until smooth and spoon over oats. Serve!

Curried Cous Cous Salad

Cous Cous is one of those foods that I literally grew up eating. My mom fixed so many international meals for our family, so Cous Cous was a very common grain when I was little. However, when I went vegan (and gluten free), I gave up my bird semolina-based hot cereal. But this story had a happy ending: I FOUND BROWN RICE COUS COUS PEOPLE! Thus, this recipe was born. A new fave! Enjoy!

           Curried Cous Cous Salad. 

                          So good. 

    This is one dish j DO NOT want to share...

         Time to devour. GET IN MA BELLY!

Curried Cous Cous Salad. Vegan, Gluten-free. Serves one. 

Ingredients

1. 1/4 cup brown rice couscous

2. 1/2 cup water

3. 3/4 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed

4. 1/4 cup chopped sweet onion

5. 1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper

6. 2 T raisins

7. 1 T white whine vinegar

8. 1/2 packet stevia

9. 1/2 tsp curry powder

10. 1 1/2 tsp braggs aminos

11. 1/8 tsp garam masala 

12. Handful finely chopped cilantro

Method 

1. Cook couscous according to package directions and fluff with a fork. Remove from heat and set aside to firm up for a few minutes. 

2. Return to heat, along with all ingredients except cilantro, along with 1/2 cup water, and stir together over medium heat. 

3. When heated through and water is absorbed, stir in cilantro. 

4. Serve warm and enjoy!