Pam’s Tex Mex Pizza (as adapted from Vegetarian Times)

Sometimes the most simpliest thing is the most yummiest!Recently I saw a Tex Mex Pizza posted online with the Vegetarian Times website and at first glance I wasn’t sure if I would like portobello mushrooms with salsa, cheese, and other veggies. Although the recipe asked for black beans and sour cream. I only used what I had on hand. Not only was this very nice to eat, it was easy to make. Assembling after prep wasn’t that long and I loved the flavors that came together in odd ways.

Ingredients

4 corn tortillas

1 portobello mushroom

½ cup of grilled green and red bell peppers

½ cup of frozen corn

1 tablespoon of taco seasonings

1 cup of prepared salsa

½ cup of shredded cheese

½ of fresh avocado

Directions

1) Microwave the four corn tortillas, set aside in a pizza pan

2) Boil the frozen corn for 5 - 8 minutes. Drain the corn and set aside for use.

3) Grill the portobello mushroom and bell peppers for 5 minutes.

4) Spread the salsa on the bottom of the corn tortillas (as crust of the recipe), then add the mushroom, corn, and peppers.

5) Slice the avocado and add to the pizza

6)  Sprinkle the taco seasonings on top of the pizza and add the shredded cheese on top

7) Bake @ 400 degrees for 10 minutes

8) Enjoy and serve

Original recipe calls for black beans, sour cream and shredded lettuce which I did not have on hand. It was good!

Enjoy.

© 2013 by Pam Osbey

Simple Vegan Sausage

Although I do not claim to be a vegan I do find value in meatless meals. The last year and a half, I have drawn down on eating a lot of meat and find protein sources in legumes and nuts. With this in mind, I was delighted to find a recipe by Vegan Dad on a vegan version of a ‘sausage’ link. Now, you know I can see myself salivating over this link with some sauteed onions and other condiments. With my sausages, I will either make some sweet potato fries or grilled veggies and rice on the side. What I like is that you can also stretch beans by adding a few ingredients. You will find this very simple. I did not use all ingredients as this recipe is very adaptable so feel free to use what you have in your cabinet.

Ingredients

• ½ cups of canned pinto beans or home cooked pinto beans (rinsed and drained)
• ½ tsp of fennel seeds
• 1 tsp of sea salt
• 1 tsp of black beans
• 1 cup of vital gluten flour
• ⅓ cup of water
• 1 tsp of garlic powder or finely chopped garlic cloves
• ½ cup of olive oil
• ½ cup of red pepper flakes
• ¼ cup of nutritional yeast  

Directions

1) Take the drained pinto beans, mash them with a fork then add all other ingredients.

2) Form the ingredients into four ‘sausages’

3) Use four sections of ‘foil” to act as a steaming apparatus and add the ‘sausages’ into a pot of boiling water.

4) Steam for 1 hour then bake for an additional 20 minutes.

5) Baking them will bring a color to the ‘sausages”

6) Place in container for future use.

7) Serve on a bun, with your own condiments. I sauteed onions and placed on them with some ketchup and mustard (with home made french fries).

Black Bean Brownies

So today while roaming around the house, I adapted a vegan brownie recipe I saw online, not entirely original however I did not use all ingredients they listed. Instead I used what I had on hand. Now, I will tell you I have always loved brownies. I have not ever had a brownie that did not have flour or eggs in it. Although I had eggs on hand, I felt ambitious and felt that trying a veganized version would be great. While making this recipe, I also adapted a recipe by Vegan Dad for a "vegan sausage" but that will be a seperate blog entry. 

Anyway, I must say these brownies are so good and moist. The fat that I only  used a few items, was very enjoyable and easy. These are very good. I would say make them with your loved ones or even kids! I used my magic bullet so it made the batter very smooth and you really couldn't tell that I had black beans in them. I would add the cocoa powder for addition next time. Since I did not have that on hand, I did not add to my recipe. 

To do this without the chocolate chips is not recommended. 

Enjoy 

Ingredients:

• 1 Can of Black Beans
• ½ cup of rolled oats
• ⅓ cup of agave nectar
• ½ cup of water (or as desired)
• ½ or ⅔ cup of chocolate chips
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• ½ cup of olive oil
• ½ cup of baking powder

Directions

1. Drain a can of black beans, wash them, and place aside.

2. Add black beans, rolled oats, waer, agave nectar, vanilla extract in a blender until smooth. Set Aside in a bowl

3. Add rolled oats, baking powder to the batch.

4. Add EVOO before you add chocolate chips. Stir chips in the batch and some on the top of the batch

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Bake longer if necessary.

6. Cut bars and serve.