Holiday Nog

Here's a recipe I came up with for a vegan holiday nog.


Holiday Nog
Yield: 4 servings

5 cups Almond or Soymilk
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/8 cup organic cane sugar
1 TB pure vanilla extract (or the seeds from 1 vanilla bean)
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg, ground
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp rum extract (add this if you want more of a buttery flavor)
1/8 - 1/4 tsp xanthan gum

Blend everything in blender until very smooth, except for the xanthan gum.  Then add the xanthan gum and blend briefly.  Chill in fridge overnight so flavors can disperse, then serve.  Adjust flavors to taste.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here's a recipe my family used growing up.  I would make a bunch of these in the summer to sell with glasses of lemonade at our annual garage sales when I was young.  I remember making quite a bit of money doing that...

Since I've been cooking a little more healthier in recent years, just by cutting the eggs out of this recipe cuts out all the bad cholesterol and cuts the calories way down, too.  Try these, you will like them!

I especially like these in the fall and winter.  They always give me such a comfort!


Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Yield: 2 dozen

1 1/2 cups organic unbleached all purpose flour (or gluten-free flour of your choice mixed with 1/2 xanthan gum)
1 TB egg replacer (or Arrowroot powder or Cornstarch)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg, ground
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
1 cup vegan margarine (I like Earth Balance)
1 cup organic brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup organic cane sugar
1/4 cup water
1 TB pure vanilla extract
3 cups regular or quick oats, raw (or gluten-free oats, if you can't eat regular oats)
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (sub Carob chips or raisins)
3/4 cups pecans, chopped

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  In a medium bowl, whisk flour, egg replacer or arrowroot, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt until fully mixed together.
3.  Beat together margarine, sugars, water and vanilla in mixer or with a hand mixer, until fluffy.
4.  Add flour mixture, mix until everything is incorporated. 
5.  With mixer running on low, slowly add in oats, chocolate chips and pecans.  You may also stir them in by hand.
6.  Using a cookie scoop, drop tablespoons onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.
7.  Bake 10-12 mins, or until golden brown.
8.  Cool a couple mins on cookie sheet until transferring to a cooling rack.

Note:  Cookies freeze really well.  If I'm making these for a special event or potluck, I will bake them, let them cool completely, place in gallon freezer bags and freeze until I'm ready to use.  They thaw out in 20 minutes and taste like you just baked them.  Enjoy!

Healthy Onion Soup Mix

Here is my healthy version of onion soup mix.

Wow.  I never thought I would be able to use all of those words in one descriptional sentence.

When I was looking to make my own, instead of using the most popular blue boxed version -loaded with hydrogenated this, and MSG that- I looked online to find a homemade recipe.  I came across a few good recipes.  This is my favorite version of all of those recipes.

I usually at least double this when I make it.  It keeps very well in a glass jar in my pantry.  


Healthy Onion Soup Mix
Yield: about 1 1/4 cups

3/4 cup dried minced onion
1/3 cup vegan beef seasoning powder (I like McKay's Beef Seasoning, but Bill's Best would probably work well)
4 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp celery seed
1/2 tsp organic sugar
1 tsp fine sea salt (optional)

Whisk everything together in a bowl.  Store in a small airtight glass spice jar.  Stores very well.  5 TB of mix are equal to one 1 1/4 oz package of Lipton Onion Soup Mix.

To make Onion Dip:  Mix 5-8 TB mix into 1 pint of sour cream to make the onion soup mix (or to taste).

Gluten Free Chickpea Loaf

Here's a very, very simple loaf.  Just in time for the holidays!  Enjoy.


Gluten Free Chickpea Loaf
Yield: 1 9x11 loaf

4 cups garbanzo beans cooked, partially mashed (slightly overcooking them gives nice flavor)
1 cup pecan meal
2 cups walnut meal
1 large onion, diced
4 celery stalks, diced
2 TB McKay's Chicken Seasoning
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp sage or thyme, optional
2 TB arrowroot powder, optional
2-4 cups cooked brown rice
1/2 cup brown rice flour, if needed*

Mix everything together in a large bowl, until fully incorporated.  Place in lightly greased 9x13 glass pan, press down with the back of a spoon until even in pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 60 minutes, or until golden brown on top.

*If it looks like the consistency needs a little something more, you may add some brown rice flour to bind it together.