Taming the Grumpies with Homemade Dinner Rolls

Posted by on Sep 16, 2014 in Lunch & Dinner | Comments Off on Taming the Grumpies with Homemade Dinner Rolls

Today was one of those days. You know the ones where your child–typically a great eater–is suddenly impossible to please? Applesauce oatmeal for breakfast and veggie fried rice for lunch (favorites on any other day) both met with complete disinterest today. So, I brought out the big guns for dinner. Homemade bread. Yeah, I meant business. This recipe is based on Holy Cow! Vegan’s Whole Wheat Burger Buns, which, by the way, we make regularly. These dinner rolls are amazing, especially if eaten warm right out of the pan. Really. My grouchy toddler devoured one slathered in red pepper hummus and went back for more. Victory. And there were no refined flours or sugars involved. Double victory. PrintVegan Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls Ingredients3 C. Whole wheat flour 2 Tbsp. Vital wheat gluten 1 Packet active dry yeast 1/2 tsp. Baking soda 1 tsp. Salt 2 tsp. Raw sugar 1 1/2 C. Warm water 3 Tbsp. Olive oilInstructionsIn the bowl of a stand mixer, combine all dry ingredients. Slowly trickling in water and oil, knead on low for 3-4 minutes. Transfer dough to a large, greased bowl and cover with a towel. Allow dough to rise until it has roughly doubled in size. Punch down dough and divide into 12 balls. Grease and flour an 8" x 11.5" casserole dish. Place the 12 balls of dough in the dish, evenly spaced. Cover again and allow to rise a second time (about 1 hour). Brush tops with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt, cracked pepper, and oats (if desired). Bake in a 370 degree oven for 25-27...

Read More

When You Need a Quick Treat: Chocolate Cake in Less than 10 Minutes

Posted by on Jul 27, 2014 in Snacks & Desserts | Comments Off on When You Need a Quick Treat: Chocolate Cake in Less than 10 Minutes

It happens in every household, usually when you least expect it. The snack attack strikes someone in the family. There is a demand for a sweet treat and you need to cobble something tasty together with the ingredients you have on hand. And ideally, that treat won’t be a nutritional void. This recipe is based on Wish I Could Cook’s “5-Minute Wacky Vegan Microwave Chocolate Cake for One” on Food.com. To give this cake a boost of iron, fiber, and protein, I used whole wheat flour. To make it truly vegan, I used raw sugar, rather than white sugar. I increased the amounts of vanilla and cocoa powder for a richer flavor. The best part about this cake is that the whole process takes less than 10 minutes: 3 minutes of preparation, 3 minutes to cook (in the microwave!), and about 3 minutes to cool. It comes out warm, moist, and perfectly sweet. It wrangles that pesky snack attack, while still offering some important health benefits. PrintWhen You Need a Quick Treat: Chocolate Cake in Less than 10 Minutes Ingredients1/4 C. Whole wheat flour 1/4 C. Raw sugar 1 Heaping Tbsp. Unsweetened cocoa powder 1/4 tsp. Baking soda 1/8 tsp. Sea salt 1/2 Tbsp. Canola oil 3/4 tsp. Apple cider vinegar 1 tsp. Vanilla extract 1/4 C. WaterInstructionsCombine the dry ingredients in a large microwave-safe mug. Stir in the wet ingredients using a mini whisk or fork until blended. Microwave at reduced power (50%) for 3 minutes. Cool at least 3 minutes. Best served...

Read More