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fettucine with vegan Alfredo sauce, kale and baked butternut squash

I found the Alfredo Sauce recipe on the Vegan Yum Yum site she also has a great ipone/pad app that is handy while cooking.  I  added sauteed kale and baked butternut squash, extra lemon and chili flakes. This is a great winter pasta.

Alfredo Sauce
1 Cup Soymilk
1/3 Cup Raw, Unsalted Cashews- I used more like a 1/2 off a cup
1/4 Cup Nutritional Yeast
3 Tbs Low-Sodium Tamari or Soy Sauce
2 Tbs Earth Balance Margarine
1 Tbs Tahini
1 Tbs Fresh Lemon Juice-I added more
2 tsp Dijon Mustard
1/2 tsp Paprika (smoked is awesome)
1 Pinch Nutmeg
2-4 Cloves of Garlic, optional
Black pepper, to taste

 Prior to creating the sauce I sliced a butternut squash and baked it with brown sugar and olive oil at 350 degrees until tender . And then squeezed lemon juice on the squash before dicing and adding to the pasta bowl.
While the squash was cooking I sauteed the kale with garlic and lemon juice and a bit of olive oil also until tender but with a bit of  a crisp to it, then chopped it and added it to the bowl with the butter nut squash,  cooked linguine  and added chili flakes and cracked pepper.
It was so good!

Cinnaholic

For those of you who know me,  know that I do what ever I can to avoid crossing the Bay bridge.
Well, that all changed yesterday.
Cinnaholic in Berkeley is reason enough to cross the bridge daily!

Sure, I have had vegan cinnamon rolls. And the only memory I have is of the non vegan type from Cinnabon. The gooey buttery nastiness of the mall and airport. (that I really miss) has come back in to my life in a vegan version.  This is the best cinnamon roll I have had. I have to imagine it is better for you than a Cinnabon too.

I hope to see you on the bridge or at Cinnaholic soon.

Shakes and Ceramics

Good Morning!

Don't Go!!

Eggplant Caponata Bruschetta

There is a version of this recipe in this months Food and Wine.  I have been trying to  make anything that includes the last of this season's heirlooms. I omitted the red pepper because they tend to over power every dish. (in my opinion)
This takes 10-15 minutes to make.

1 large egg plant- peeled and diced
2 tablespoons golden raisins (i could not find golden raisins I used regular and it was great)
21/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion diced
1 celery rib diced
1-2 garlic cloves minced
1 jalapeno seeded and minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 medium tomato diced
2 tablespoons chopped pitted green olives
1 tablespoon capers. (the original recipe calls for a half of tablespoon but i love capers)
1-2 tablespoons chopped parsley (not in the original recipe but was a great topping) 
1/2 tablespoon sherry vinegar ( I subbed with balsamic)
and sourdough baguette sliced to toast and top 

1) toss the eggplant on the side in a colander or bowl with salt and let it sit while you prepare the rest.
2) soak the raisins in a cup of warm water for 10 minutes and drain 
3) heat the olive oil , add the onion and celery cover and cook med to low for 4 minutes. add the garlic and the jalapeno and cook another 4 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook about one minute. Transfer all to a large bowl.
4) in a non stick skillet, heat the remaining olive oil and cook the egg plant until translucent (not to much or the consistency will be terrible) 
add all together with the capers, raisins , balsamic vinegar and salt and toss and top toasted sour dough  crustinis. 

This was so easy and tasty

xo,
C

Snake Oil I am fond of

This Week anyway. There are so many vegan supplements, protein powders and veggie enhancers. That  all tout vegan goodness but a couple of these are effective because they provide absorb-able sources of vitamin B12.
 

Mega Greens plus MSM
a powdered mixture or roots and leaves. Is suppose to balance your body's PH while providing vitamins and and plant proteins. (tastes awful)

Rice Protein - Plus Flax Seed
Pretty innocuous when added to a shake and has 12 grams of protein per serving

Aloe Life Super Fruit
High Antioxidant Juices plus Aloe
Aloe is suppose to be a vegan absorb-able form of  B12 . (tastes like it is doing something.)

Buried Treasure "B" Complete Vitamins
balanced B complex with C

I will report back ..
if you try one let me know