23 Nov 2016
Guest Blog Posts, Vegan Recipes
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French Lentil, White Bean and Rainbow Chard Soup

white-bean-swiss-chard-soup

“A Legend Among Legumes” Our Rustic FRENCH LENTIL, WHITE BEAN and RAINBOW CHARD SOUP is a bonanza of health to keep you feeling your best as the cooler months roll in.

.This is a nice, nutrient-dense vegan soup, loaded with healthy ingredients and a ton of flavor. Perfect for a chilly fall night.

French Lentil, White Bean and Rainbow Chard Soup

Ingredients:

  • 3 cloves chopped garlic
  • 1/2 Vidalia onion chopped
  • 1/4 bulb of chopped fennel or 1 cup diced celery
  • 1 cup diced zucchini
  • 1 cup diced sweet potato
  • 2 cups Vegetable stock
  • 2 cups of cold water
  • 2 plum tomatoes diced
  • 2 cups cooked French Lentils
  • 1 cup cooked small white beans
  • 2 large handfuls of chopped Rainbow Chard
  • 3 oz. tomato paste (optional)
  • small handful chopped parsley
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions: In a large soup pot coated with olive oil over a low/medium heat add garlic and onion and sauté for approx 2-3 minutes..add 1/4 cup of water, fennel, zucchini and sweet potato and sauté 5-7 minutes..add remaining ingredients and simmer for approx 30 minutes..adjust seasoning and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and serve with grilled old world bread..Enjoy????…

Tip: Baby Spinach or Kale can be substituted for Red Chard

Enjoy!

-Ron

30 May 2016
Guest Blog Posts, Vegan Recipes
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Mom’s Vegan Chili

Moms-Vegan-Chili

This recipe came from the mother of my best ex-husband ever 😉 I just tweaked it a little bit to make it a vegan chili recipe that would be Sexy Fit Vegan-approved!

It is really delicious! It can certainly fill you up all on it’s own, but I’m all about comfort food, so when I’m in the mood for a vegan-friendly comfort meal I like to serve it with:

Grilled cheese sandwiches, using Ezekiel bread, Vegennaise, a combination of sliced and shredded vegan cheeses, and earth balance spread on both sides of the bread, before grilling – a comfort food feast!

Mom’s Vegan Chili

  • 3/4’s cup chopped onion, sauteed in a little oil
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes, undrained
  • 2 packages of Beyond Meat
  • 1 10 oz. can enchilada sauce
  • 1 8oz. can tomato sauce
  • 1 14 oz. can chopped green chilies
  • 2-3 T chili powder
  • 1 t dried oregano
  • 1/2 t cumin

Combine everything in a crock pot, slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours

Or

Combine everything in a large pot and cook on the stove on low for an hour, stirring occasionally.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

19 Apr 2016
Vegan Recipes
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Mom’s Easy No-Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

vegan soup recipe

This easy vegan soup recipe was created by my own mother on her last trip to visit me.

My mom is not much of a chef (she would tell you that herself), but when she comes to visit she seems inspired to make soups that always turn out amazing. She goes for the most simple, uncomplicated vegan recipes possible, which makes them all the more appealing. This trip she was feelin’ some vegan chicken noodle soup and it turned out fantastic! She’s all about comfort foods and this recipe definitely qualifies as one to cure a craving for comfort.
If you are trying to keep your pasta/flour intake low, you can always substitute the orzo for chickpea pasta or edamame and mung bean pasta. Another option is using quinoa (I haven’t tried it but I’m guessing it would work well). 
Here is her recipe…

No-Chicken Noodle Vegan Soup

Ingredients:
  • 1 onion
  • 3 stalks of celery, diced
  • 3 carrots, diced
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic 
  • 1 package of Beyond Meat Grilled Chicken Strips – cut into little pieces
  • 1 32-oz box of organic vegetable broth (low sodium if possible)
  • a touch of olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • dash of hot sauce of choice (optional)
  • sea salt and pepper to taste
Saute the onion, celery, carrots and garlic in a little olive oil on medium/medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes. Add the Beyond Meat pieces and saute for another 3-4 minutes. Add the vegetable broth. Add the parsley, thyme, a dash of hot sauce (or whatever seasoning you like), and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a low boil and add 1/2 cup uncooked orzo or pasta of choice. Simmer for about 20 minutes.
 
Tip: This is one of those soups that tastes even better when heated up the next day!
Enjoy!
Easy vegan soup
03 Feb 2016
Guest Blog Posts, Vegan Recipes
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Spicy Thai Curry Noodle Soup

Spicy-Thai-Curry-Noodle-Soup

Simmer Your Way to a Fusion of Flavors with our 7 ingredient-10 minute “Spicy Thai Curry Noodle Soup.”

This soup has it all… it’s flavorful and satisfying, it’s quick and simple to make, AND it’s made with a line-up of health-promoting ingredients. Just to name a few… Curry has been shown to help with digestion and contains disease-fighting antioxidants. Garlic is known to strengthen our immune systems and regulate blood sugar. And ginger can soothe our stomachs, aid in digestion, and reduce inflammation in the body. Enjoy this easy addition to your plant-based diet plan!

Spicy Thai Curry Noodle Soup

Ingredients

  • 3½ cloves minced garlic
  • 1¾ tbsp minced ginger
  • 2 tbsp red curry paste
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 c vegetable stock
  • 3 c unsweetened coconut milk
  • 7 ounces dried rice noodles
  • For garnish: scallion, Thai basil, red chilies, chopped cilantro

Directions

In a small bowl combine garlic, ginger and curry paste and mix well. Drizzle in olive oil and continue to mix well. Add curry paste mixture to a large soup pot and heat over low to medium heat for 2 minutes. (Add a drop of vegetable stock if paste is too dry.)

Then add vegetable stock and coconut milk and bring to a boil. Place the dry noodles in the soup and cook until all dente. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and garnish with cilantro, red chilies, Thai basil and chopped scallion. Serve immediately … enjoy!

Serves 4

Tips

  • Do not let curry paste dry out… you can add a little stock to keep it from sticking.
  • Substitute any variety of rice noodle
  • Be sure to use “unsweetened ” coconut milk.

Spicy Thai Curry Noodle Soup

28 Dec 2015
Guest Blog Posts, Vegan Recipes
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Classic White Bean and Escarole Soup

White-Bean-and-Escarole-Soup

Simplicity never tasted so good. This Callicoon Kitchen recipe blends tender, velvety escarole with hearty white beans and adds a dash of heat to perfectly balance this White Bean and Escarole Soup … an old time classic that never goes out of style.

Classic White Bean and Escarole Soup

Ingredients

  • 1 head fresh escarole
  • 3 organic Roma tomatoes
  • ½ minced Serrano pepper
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 3 organic carrots
  • 32 ounce vegetable stock
  • 1½ tbsp fresh thyme (leave a few sprigs to garnish)
  • 1½ c Great Northern Beans or Cannellini (If dried beans soak overnight and cook al dente . Substituting high quality canned is OK)
  • 1 tsp tomato paste
  • ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Directionswhite bean and escarole soup

Rough chop fresh escarole then soak in a cold water bath and drain a few times until water is clear then set aside.

Dice garlic, carrots and tomatoes then seed and fine chop Serrano pepper. Take ½ c of beans and mash with back of a fork … remaining beans can be left whole.

Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a pot over a medium heat. Add garlic and sauté 2 minutes. Then add carrots, serrano pepper and ½ c vegetable stock and cook for 5 minutes. Then add escarole and cook down, turning occasionally, about 5 minutes. Finally add tomatoes, thyme, tomato paste, chili flakes, whole and mashed beans and remaining stock and allow to simmer 15 minutes. Check for seasoning then salt and pepper to taste.

Serve up immediately with grilled sourdough or ciabatta and garnish with a few sprigs of fresh thyme and drizzle with high quality olive oil, Enjoy!

Tips
Keep the soup at a simmer (do not boil!)
For a milder soup omit Serrano pepper.

Make this delicious, easy vegan recipe with me as I demo the process HERE! Enjoy!

-Ron Badach

27 Oct 2015
Guest Blog Posts, Vegan Recipes
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Butternut Squash Bisque

Vegan-butternut-squash-bisque

Welcoming in the fall with this seasonal spectacular Butternut Squash Bisque easy vegan recipe.

When the days get shorter and the birds head south, staying fit mentally and physically can really be a challenge. This creamy, simple, satisfying butternut squash bisque will not only elevate your mood but also nourish you the right way so you can take back the day. This easy vegan recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight meal or as an elegant first course to dress up your holiday table.

Butternut Squash Bisque

Serves 4

Ingredients:

  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 organic butternut squash
  • ½ Vidalia onion
  • 2 carrots
  • 2 c vegetable stock
  • 1 c water
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • 6 whole cloves of garlic
  • ½ c unsweetened almond milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Use tip of a knife to poke small holes around outer edge of squash then microwave on high for 3 minutes (this will to soften exterior of squash.) Allow squash to cool then slice off top and bottom then cut in half and remove seeds. Using a peeler remove the outer skin. Cut squash into 1-inch cubes.

To a large mixing bowl add cubed squash, 6 cloves of garlic, 3 tbsp olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Combine together then spread on a baking sheet covered with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes then remove from oven and set aside.

Dice onion and carrots. Heat a few tbsp of olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add carrots, onion and nutmeg and mix well, stirring occasionally, cook for 8 -10 minutes. Add squash and cook for an additional 5 minutes (you can add a small amount of water if mixture gets too dry.) Then add vegetable stock and water and bring to a boil and then reduce to simmer 8-10 minutes.

Remove pot from heat. Use an immersion blender (regular blender or food processor will also work) to blend soup mixture until smooth texture. Thin with water if necessary. Stir in almond milk then salt and pepper to taste. Return to stove to heat soup (do not boil) then ready to serve… enjoy!

Tips:
Garnish with ground nutmeg or cinnamon. Can also top with chopped pecans or other nut.
Serve as a light dinner or an elegant first course at your next dinner party.
Check out www.callicoonkithen.com to watch Ron prepare the dish!

11 Apr 2014
Guest Blog Posts, Uncategorized, Vegan Recipes
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Detox Carrot Soup

Detox-Carrot-Soup

Did you, like many of us, over indulge a bit over the holidays? Feel the need for a reboot with a clean eating detox?

I know that sometimes the temptation in January is to go the extreme with a juice cleanse or a super strict diet plan, and while those can have their time and place, they can also be incredibly hard to stick with and therefore many people get frustrated and go back to lousy eating habits again.  In my opinion the best, and most sustainable, reset you can do is pack your diet with fresh vegetables and cut out the things that are triggers for you. For me it is sugar and wine, for someone else it might be bread and and potato chips.

This soup is great for this time of year because it is easy, healthy, warming and satisfying.  The recipe itself is incredibly simple, but you could definitley punch it up with different spices if you like e.g., cumin, fresh ginger or a pinch of cayenne would be a good combo. Also if you want to up your greens intake feel free to throw in a couple of handfuls  of spinach at the end.

Detox Carrot Soup

IMG_4259

  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 6 carrots peeled and chopped
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 potatoes peeled and diced
  • 4 C vegetable stock
  • 1/2-1 1/2 tsp salt
  • Black pepper to taste

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over a medium low heat.  Add carrots, garlic and onion and cook for 5 minutes.  Stir in the potatoes, reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 5 minutes.  Pour in broth and bring to a boil, then reduce heat , cover, and allow soup to simmer for 20-25 minutes until vegetables are tender.

Allow soup to cool a bit and then puree in batches in a blender.  Reheat, season with salt and pepper (depending on the vegetable broth you use you may need a little, or a lot, of salt) and serve.  Top with vegan sour cream and green onions if desired.

Enjoy!

– Kirsten