Vegan Cooking with TLC

I created this dish one night because I was craving chocolate. I went into the kitchen to find something to put together with chocolate in it. Two things were quite obvious from the moment I looked in the pantry. I really needed to go to the grocery store and I needed to get creative. So I decided to let the show Chopped inspire me to use what I had on hand to come up with something. And, it turned out we really liked it! Enough so that I've played around with the recipe to come up with a few variations. I love to serve this dessert in the ice cream dishes my Grandma Stamm gave me for my hope chest when I was a teenager. But, any dessert dish will work just fine. Frozen Chocolate Banana Almond Cream 2 large bananas ½ cup almond butter ¼ cup cacao powder 2 teaspoons maple syrup ¼ teaspoon vanilla , optional chopped almonds, optional cacao nibs, optional Peel bananas. Place all ingredients in a food processor . Pulse a couple of times. Process until smooth,

I drink a large glass of hibiscus tea every evening with dinner with few exceptions. It's easy to make, tastes good, and has some health benefits. I first tried hibiscus in a couple of different restaurants as additions to other drinks. I really enjoyed it, but I didn't consider making it myself until I watched  Is Hibiscus Tea Good for You?  and learned it contains more antioxidants than even matcha tea. I really didn't like the recipe in the video, so I created my own. I wanted something simpler and without any sweetener. This is about as simple as it gets. Cold Brew Hibiscus Tea 2-4 tablespoons organic hibiscus flowers *   Water Place hibiscus flowers in a 60 ounce pitcher . Fill pitcher with water. Let steep for 8-12 hours in refrigerator. The variation in the amount of hibiscus flowers is determined by the size of the hibiscus flower. I've found if they're very large it takes more than if they're cut smaller to get the same inten

I love to drink spicy hot lemon water.  I often begin and/or end my day with a cup and sometimes have cup in the middle of the afternoon just because. I find it soothing and I like that I can include spices that promote health.  I particularly enjoy drinking spicy hot lemon water when I have a cold, but it's good any time.  It could also serve as a nonalcoholic take on a hot toddy. Spicy Hot Lemon Water 1 lemon ½ tsp maple syrup * ¼ tsp fresh or ground ginger ¼ tsp fresh or ground turmeric 1 pinch cayenne pepper Water Put water on to heat in a  tea kettle , or electric kettle . Juice lemon and pick out seeds using a citrus juicer . Place maple syrup in a 12-16-ounce** coffee or tea cup . If using fresh ginger and/or turmeric, grate using a zester/grater .  Add spices. Add lemon juice. Fill cup to top with hot water. Stir well. * Maple syrup lacks much nutritional value, but it works well in this recipe because it dissolves

I started making my own marinara sauce and freezing it many years ago. Over time I've adjusted the recipe as needed to better fit my lifestyle, health needs, and tastes. I've made it using fresh tomatoes and canned tomatoes. This is my recipe using canned tomatoes. I use canned tomatoes that are low in salt and only contain tomatoes. I started making my own because I wanted to control what was in the sauce, so I could customize it for my tastes as well as my health needs. This recipe isn't difficult, but it does take a full day to make it. Marinara Sauce with Canned Tomatoes 1 head garlic 1 medium red onion 2 medium carrots 1 small beet 1 stalk celery 1 medium bell pepper ½ teaspoon black pepper 2 tablespoons dried marjoram 2 tablespoons dried basil 2 tablespoons dried oregano 1 bay leaf ¼ cup water 2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds ½ cup red wine 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 4 28-ounce cans whole tomatoes 4 28-ounce cans

Sometimes we eat breakfast with another person... This recipe takes the recipe for steel cuts oats for one and adjusts it to feed two. Steel cut oats are filling and healthy. It's easy to adjust them with different mixes of fruit, berries, and nuts. Berry Banana Steel Cut Oats for Two ¼ cup water 1 teaspoon    ground flax seeds 1 teaspoon  Ceylon cinnamon ½ teaspoon  ground ginger 1 pinch ground  cloves ¼ teaspoon  nutmeg ½ cup  steel cut oats 2 cups water 2 whole dried bananas 2-3 tablespoons dried  goji berries 2-3 tablespoons dried  mulberries 2-3 tablespoons dried blueberries 2-3 tablespoons dried cherries 1 teaspoon  cacao nibs 4 tablespoons walnuts 1 teaspoon  hemp seeds Heat ¼ cup water in a  small saucepan . Add flax seed and cook 1-2 minutes. Add spices and stir in. Cook until mixture starts to thicken. Add in steel cut oats. Stir to coat oats with spices. Add 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower heat t

One of my favorite breakfasts is steel cut oats. I eat steel cut oats several times a week with different mixes of fruit and berries. This recipe tends to be my go-to recipe because I almost always have these ingredients in the house, but feel free to mix it up with your favorites. Making it for two people is just as easy. Berry Banana Steel Cut Oats for One ¼ cup water 1 teaspoon ground flax seeds 1 teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground ginger 1 pinch ground cloves ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ¼ cup steel cut oats 1 cup water 1 dried whole banana 1-2 tablespoons dried  goji berries 1-2 tablespoons dried mulberries 1-2 tablespoons dried blueberries 1-2 tablespoons dried cherries ½ teaspoon cacao nibs 2 tablespoons walnuts ½ teaspoon hemp seeds Heat ¼ cup water in a small saucepan . Add flax seed and cook 1-2 minutes. Add spices and stir in. Cook until mixture starts to thicken. Add in steel cut oats. Stir to coat oats with spices. Add 1 cup o